Water Crisis in India

A water shortage in northern India is looming. The delay in monsoon rains is to blame for the severe shortage of water.

Delay in monsoon rains has led to severe shortage of drinking water in the Haldwani region in northern India. Streams are on verge of drying up and the water levels in dams have been severely depleted.

There is limited supply of water in various parts of the region and people have to wait for hours to fetch water from water tankers being provided by the government.

[Ansuiya, Local]:
"We get only half-an-hour of water supply here and we have to get water from far off places, we face great difficulty."

Officials blame the small size of the distribution system and absence of an overhead tanker in the city behind the water crisis situation.

[Prem Singh, Haldwani Water Supply Department]:
"Due to the small size of the distribution system and because of the absence of an overhead tank in the city, there is difficulty at the tail points of the city."

The monsoon rains usually come in July. But the delay and irregular pattern of rains has caused a serious concern among people in several parts of India.

[Mohammed Ali, Muslim Priest]:
"It is said that whenever there is a situation like this, when there is no rainfall, if all the people get together and pray, the almighty will bless the people with rain."

The monsoon is crucial to India's economy as farm production depends heavily on the timely arrival of rains.

Category:

News & Politics

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