ANNOUNCEMENTS
Human-induced climate change, driven by extreme anthropogenic activities, has exacerbated rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns, impacting environmental and socio-economic systems globally. Recent decades have seen more frequent and intense heatwaves, especially in urban areas, affecting health, energy consumption, and biodiversity. Erratic precipitation patterns, particularly affecting monsoon-dependent regions like India, have led to more extreme rainfall events and prolonged dry spells, threatening agriculture and water resources. Central India's Bundelkhand region, characterized by low and erratic rainfall has been facing frequent droughts, worsened by weakened monsoon winds and stronger El-Nino events. Despite efforts like the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to provide reliable drinking water to remote areas, water availability remains a critical issue. This is where ex-situ sourcing of water comes in the picture. Sustainable water management practices are essential to balance water supply needs with long-term resource availability and source-sustainability. This study focuses on assessing the water availability in Jhansi district, analysing recent and future meteorological drought incidents in the region, and to map JJM’s coverage on the basis of its sourcing of water. The findings imply towards urgent incorporation of source-sustainability measures and not just on ex-situ source dependency which can be compromised or cut off at times of crisis hit at both places simultaneously.
Keywords: Jal Jeevan Mission; rainfall anomaly index; drought; source water sustainability; SWAT.
