River Basin Management

INDIA'S WATER CRISIS: FROM GROUNDWATER DEPLETION TO CLIMATE SHOCKS

India faces severe water stress driven by groundwater overexploitation, erratic monsoons, and fragmented governance, despite supporting 18% of the global population with only 4% of freshwater. Achieving water security demands urgent demand-side management, circular water economies, and AI-driven distribution networks.

MAHANADI WATER DISPUTE: CAUSES, CHALLENGES, AND WAY FORWARD

Restoring river biodiversity through river ranching

River Ranching is a scientific fisheries management initiative implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to restore depleted fish populations in India’s rivers. The programme involves releasing hatchery-reared fingerlings of native species into natural water bodies to enhance fish production, conserve riverine biodiversity, and strengthen ecological balance. Implemented by the Department of Fisheries with the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) as the nodal agency, it covers major river basins such as the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Mahanadi. The initiative also supports sustainable inland fisheries, improves food security, and enhances the livelihoods of river-dependent communities while contributing to the broader goal of sustainable river ecosystem management.