Water Budgeting in Aspirational Blocks: NITI Aayog Report
Why in the news
NITI Aayog published a study on water budgeting for aspirational blocks, aimed at local water security and better planning in line with Viksit Bharat@2047.
Key facts
- Title: “Water Budgeting in Aspirational Blocks”, prepared with GIZ India.
- Coverage: 18 blocks, 11 States, 8 agro-climatic zones.
- Platform: Varuni, a web-based tool for block-level planning, data integration, demand-supply gap detection and mapping consumption hotspots.
- Each block gets analysis of demand versus supply, seasonal variation, sector-wise stress and tailored suggestions.
About water budgeting
A data-driven way to estimate water demand of households, livestock, agriculture and industry against supply from runoff, groundwater, surface water and inter-basin transfers. Models in Israel, Australia and California show such planning builds long-term resilience.
Findings
| Block | Observation |
|---|---|
| Namchi | 94% deficit |
| Gangiri | 60% deficit |
| Baldeogarh | 53% deficit |
| Kotri and Abu Road (Rajasthan) | Groundwater drawn beyond recharge |
| Fatehpur (Bihar) | Generates runoff but stored water underused |
Recommendations
- Cut agricultural use (80-90% of freshwater) via crop diversification, micro-irrigation, conjunctive use.
- Update water budgets every year given erratic monsoons, droughts and floods.
- Build block-level capacity and better hydrological data systems; treat water as finite; involve communities.
- Local measures: rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, greywater reuse, stronger drinking water sources.
- Converge Jal Jeevan Mission, MGNREGA, agriculture schemes and watershed programmes.
Exam angle
- Report partners: NITI Aayog and GIZ India.
- Digital platform: Varuni.
- Scope: 18 blocks, 11 States, 8 agro-climatic zones.