Why in News?
Recently, The Union Cabinet has approved a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Australia on Technical Cooperation for Australia –India water Security initiative.
What is AIWASI?
- AIWASI is a project Under South Asia Water Security Initiative (SAWASI) of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia.
- Its aim is to work towards the Water Sensitive City vision which is based on holistic management of the integrated water cycle.
- AIWASI will reinforce India’s water governance and undertake investments that provide.
- urban water services,
- assist to disadvantaged communities to access reliable, safe water and sanitation services.
- AIWASI will undertake and deliver a Water Sensitive Urban Design demonstration project.
- This AIWASI project is also a ‘living laboratory’ with numerous educational, social and environmental benefits for example, water literacy of students and the community, creation of green spaces, improved air quality from blue-green infrastructure and rejuvenation of degraded water bodies and aquifers.
Significance-
- The MoU will enable both India and Australia to learn about technological advancements gained by two nations in major areas of urban water security.
- It will encourage exchange of learning, best practices and capacity building of institutions.
- Under Australia-India Water Security Initiative (AIWASI), It will also help promote cooperation between the two countries.
Water security-
- The definition of water security suggested by UN-Water , The capacity of a population to protect sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water for sustaining livelihoods, human well-being, and socio-economic development, for ensuring protection against water-borne pollution and water related disasters, and for preserving ecosystems in a climate of peace and political stability.
Challenges related to water security in India-
- According to the Sustainable Development Goal report (2019),
- 1 in 4 health care facilities faces shortfall in basic water services.
- 3 in 10 people face shortage to safely managed drinking water services.
- 6 in 10 people lack access to safely managed sanitation facilities.
- Probably 892 million people continue to practice open defecation.
- Mostly, Women and girls are accountable for water collection in 80%of households without access to water on the premises.
- And if this current trend of over-exploitation continues, India is set to become a water scarce country in the near future.
- A swiftly increasing population and urbanization have driven up water demands all across the country.
- While years of pollution, inefficient methods of farming, decentralized water governance, groundwater exploitation and poor infrastructure have depleted the water resources.