Several initiatives have been taken by the government towards addressing India's water needs, but the issues of water availability and water quality still warrant prioritised intervention. Discuss.

India has taken several initiatives like PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Tal Shakti Mission, Integrated Watershed Management programme, establishment of Central Water Commission & Central Ground water Authority etc. However, issues of Water Availability & Water quality needs priority. I Water Availability: (1) NITI Aayog & report show 20 states face water scarcity (2) Acc to Tal Shakti Ministry, we extract highest amount

of groundwater i.e 253bcm peryed (3) According to NASA data, India's groundwaters levels are receding by 0.9m like claysite [illegible] (4) Extreme weather events have also reduced water availability II Water Quality-> Arsenic contamination in West Bengal (2) Lack of petable (2) 400,000 deaths due to diarrhoea can be avoided if water quality in India is improved [WHO] Interventions Required: Water Availability | Water Quality Ground water extraction | Grey water recycling | Collaboration with (2) check illegal sand mining Ground water regulations | (3) Decentralized water testing kits A collection of discrete data | Addressing inter state water disputes Addressing (cf Krishna Kaveri dispute) | Two steps under Tal Jeevan Mission such as "Pani Samithi", distribution of field kits etc are steps in right direction