Water security critical for India’s $30tn economy ambition: Amitabh Kant

75 per cent of Indian households currently lack access to drinking water: Amitabh Kant

New Delhi: Water security challenges could significantly impact its ambitious economic growth targets, India G20 Sherpa Mr Amitabh Kant said at FICCI’s 10th India Industry Water conclave and FICCI water awards.

Amitabh Kant highlighted the stark disparity between India’s population and water resources, noting that while the country houses 17% of the global population, it has access to merely 4% of the world’s freshwater resources.

” This imbalance is further exacerbated by the fact that 75% of Indian households currently lack access to drinking water” he said.

“India’s ability to grow from a $4 trillion economy to a $30 trillion economy is fundamentally a function of water,” Kant said.

“Our capacity to grow in an environmentally sustainable manner and improve citizens’ quality of life depends entirely on how we manage this critical resource” he said.

He outlined three key solutions: restoring local water bodies, deploying advanced technology for real-time monitoring, and community-based water management.
Kant encouraged the industry to take a leading role in efficiently managing water resources.

“Industry must lead the way in recycling and reusing water, bringing in the best technology and capabilities. This will be crucial for ensuring India becomes water secure,” he emphasised.

On occasion, G Asok Kumar, Former Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga, Ministry of Jal Shakti, alluded to the Sahi-Fasal campaign, promoting water-efficient farming practices.

“We need to achieve more net income per drop by reducing water-intensive farming,” he said, urging industries to support farmers with micro-irrigation technologies” he said.

Highlighting the need for responsible water management,Kumar urged that if water is extracted from the ground, it is essential to replenish it.

He also advocated for the “Catch the Rain” campaign, which aims to refurbish and prepare rainwater harvesting structures before the monsoon season, ensuring that no drop of rainwater is wasted.

Naina Lal Kidwai, Chair, FICCI Water Mission and Past President, FICCI, emphasised the industry’s responsibility in sustainable water usage.

“The industry can and must lead the way in water conservation, focusing on reducing our water footprint through innovative practices,” she said.

The event saw the release of FICCI’s Compendium of Best Practices and the announcement of the 12th FICCI Water Awards, where Apollo Tyres won first prize in the Industrial Water Use Efficiency category, followed by Hindalco Industries (Unit Birla Copper Dahej) in second place. Diageo (United Spirits Ltd.- Goa) and ITC Royal Bengal & ITC Sonar received special mentions.