A new report has suggested that India accounts for almost one-fourth of the total groundwater extracted globally, more than that of China and the US combined thus using the largest amount of groundwater 24 per cent of the global total. Export of food and clothing items, while important sources of income, exacerbates this problem if production is not made sustainable, making it harder for many poor and marginalised communities to get access to clean water supply, warned the report released by WaterAid to mark World Water Day on March 22.

Shutterstock/Representational Image

It said India also used the largest amount of groundwater 24 per cent of the global total - and the country's rate of groundwater depletion increased by 23 per cent between 2000 and 2010.

"India is the third largest exporter of groundwater 12 per cent of the global total," the report said.

It further said wheat and rice were the two most important and highest water-guzzling crops that India produced.

"Rice is the least water-efficient grain and wheat has been the main driver in increasing irrigation stress. Replacing rice and wheat with other crops like maize, millets, sorghum mapped to suitable geographies could reduce irrigation water demand by one-third.

BCCL/Representational Image

"Though replacement of rice and wheat crops is challenging, in an ideal scenario, choice of crop needs to be matched with ecology and the amount of water available in the area it is being produced in," the report said.

Noting that one kg of wheat required an average 1,654 litres of water, the report said 1 kg of rice requires an average 2,800 litres of water.

"So, just for rice, a family of four consumes approximately 84,600 litres of virtual water in a month," it said.

"In 2014-15, India exported 37.2 lakh tonnes of basmati. To export this rice, the country used around 10 trillion litres of water, meaning India virtually exported 10 trillion litres of water," said the report released ahead of World Water Day.

BCCL/Representational Image

WaterAid India's Chief Executive VK Madhavan, said this World Water Day (March 22), it is calling for production of these goods to be made more sustainable and for consumers to be more thoughtful in their purchasing habits.

He said lack of access to clean water further pushes the marginalised and vulnerable communities towards a vicious circle of poverty.

"The burden of accessing water to meet daily needs prevents them from reaching their full potential by inhibiting their education, health and livelihood opportunities," he said.

Madhavan said there is a dire need to invest in making clean water within the household accessible to everyone, everywhere.

BCCL/Representational Image

"India's success in providing its citizens with access to clean water will significantly impact the success of global goals that the government has committed to," he added.

India is currently ranked 120 among 122 countries in the water quality index.

In 2015, Indian government committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6, which promises that by 2030 everyone will have access to clean water, decent sanitation and good hygiene. The human right to water must take priority ahead of other competing demands.

(With PTI Inputs)