Introduction
For the past few days, we have been witnessing shouting matches and blame games over the water quality of the Yamuna among politicians. I addressed this issue in detail in my blog, The Irritating Yamuna Stink – How Will it GO? on June 1, 2024.
In that piece, I highlighted a long-standing failure of governance, infrastructure, and policy implementation. Unlike the Thames River, which was swiftly cleaned after a similar crisis in 1858, the Yamuna continues to suffer despite decades of investment and multiple action plans.
The blog shed light on systemic flaws—untreated sewage inflows, ineffective sewage treatment plants, and a misplaced reliance on hardware-centric solutions. It also critically examined the Interceptor Sewer System, which failed due to unrealistic assessments, poor execution, and a lack of holistic planning.
Having firsthand experience in water quality modelling of the Yamuna in 2009-10, the study emphasized that true river rejuvenation requires a multi-pronged approach. Infrastructure alone is not enough; water conservation, stricter industrial regulations, continuous monitoring, and active public-NGO-private partnerships are equally crucial.
Multiple studies reaffirm that we must view the river as a stakeholder with ecological rights. Embracing practical yet unpopular measures like realistic tariffs, forced conservation, and better governance is the way forward. The question remains: Will decision-makers finally prioritize sustainable, integrated solutions, or will the Yamuna’s stink persist indefinitely while politicians continue to play the blame game?
As the election season heats up in Delhi, political parties are making grand promises—free electricity, cash transfers, and even free pilgrimage trips. But will this improve living conditions? Behind this spectacle lies an uncomfortable truth: voters are drawn to these short-term gains because they have little faith in the government’s ability to deliver fundamental necessities like clean drinking water, better drainage, improved roads, and basic living conditions.
Despite decades of policy initiatives and infrastructure projects, India’s water crisis remains severe. While urban elites debate infrastructure growth, millions of citizens struggle with waterborne diseases, erratic supply, and increasing privatization of water resources. The situation raises a critical question: Have we set our expectations so low that we now accept freebies as compensation for an ineffective system?
The State of Drinking Water in India
India’s water woes are well-documented. According to government data, around 91% of urban and 89% of rural households have access to “basic” water services. However, access does not mean safety. A significant proportion of this water is contaminated with fluoride, arsenic, and industrial pollutants, making safe drinking water a privilege rather than a right.
Until recently, in many rural areas, women and children travelled miles to fetch water, while urban India faces another paradox—overextraction of groundwater coexisting with massive water shortages. The irony is that India sits on some of the world’s largest aquifers, yet lakhs of people die annually due to inadequate access to safe water.
The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched in 2019, aimed to provide tap water to every rural household by 2024. While the effort is praiseworthy, challenges like poor pipeline maintenance, intermittent supply, and water contamination persist. Based on my experience with the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), I observed that the lack of ownership in local water supply schemes leads to a vicious cycle—poor construction, inadequate cost recovery, untrained maintenance teams, and subpar service. DANIDA attempted to address this with successful examples in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, promoting demand-driven, participatory, and cost-recovery models. However, the political class continues to treat water as a “political good,” making promises of free water at the expense of taxpayers.
Why Basic Services Take a Backseat
The neglect of essential services like clean drinking water, sanitation, and reliable electricity is not just a result of government apathy—it reflects a political economy where short-term relief often outweighs long-term structural reforms.
- Political Incentives Favor Freebies Over Infrastructure
Investing in water infrastructure is costly, slow, and does not yield immediate electoral gains. Instead, politicians find it easier to offer “guarantees” of free water tankers during peak summer rather than fixing the root problem. - Low Public Expectations
Years of inadequate service delivery have led many citizens to believe that safe water and reliable public services are luxuries, not rights. When voters are conditioned to accept poor services, they focus on immediate, tangible benefits like free LPG cylinders or direct cash transfers. - Urban vs. Rural Disparity
While metros like Delhi and Mumbai struggle with water theft and tanker mafias, rural India remains at the mercy of erratic monsoons and depleting groundwater. The political class rarely prioritizes long-term solutions, leading to water insecurity across demographics. - Privatization and the Growing Cost of Water
As state governments fail to provide clean water, private players step in, often leading to increased costs. The bottled water industry in India is worth ₹20,000 crore, highlighting the shift from public to private responsibility for safe drinking water.
The Freebie Trap
The rise of freebie culture is a symptom of voters losing faith in governance. When basic needs like clean water and sanitation remain unmet, election promises of free Wi-Fi or financial doles seem more attractive. However, this comes at a cost. The allocation of resources toward subsidies means lesser investment in critical infrastructure, creating a vicious cycle where structural issues never get resolved.
The Way Forward
The solution lies in shifting political priorities from short-term populism to long-term infrastructure development. Some key steps include:
- Stronger Accountability: Citizens must demand transparency on government spending, ensuring funds are used for improving water quality rather than temporary relief schemes. I strongly support the idea that any political party must take prior approval of an independent constitutional authority, before announcing a freebie. Should that not be possible-it calls for judicial activism to stop this menace.
- Public Awareness: Grassroots campaigns can educate voters on the importance of sustainable water management over temporary handouts.
- Investment in Technology: Smart water grids, desalination plants, and better wastewater treatment can ensure equitable distribution.
- Regulating Water Privatization: Governments must prevent the unchecked rise of water mafias and make drinking water a fundamental right, not a market commodity.
Conclusion
The willingness of voters to settle for freebies is not just a reflection of political strategy but of a deeper crisis—a loss of trust in the government’s ability to deliver basic services. Clean drinking water is not a privilege; it is a necessity. Until we demand better governance and reject the illusion of quick fixes, India’s water crisis will persist, and voters will continue to accept band-aid solutions instead of real change.
It is time for citizens to shift their focus from temporary relief to demanding long-term solutions. Only when governance prioritizes essential services over electoral giveaways can India truly break free from this cycle of neglect and political opportunism in water management.
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