Recently, the BBC reported that in addition to power shortages, New Delhi faces a severe water crisis under the scorching heat. Social media is filled with videos of locals queuing with water buckets, waiting for water tankers. The shortages of water and electricity are not confined to New Delhi alone and are influenced by India’s natural conditions, government resource management, political party struggles, among other factors. Meanwhile, the extreme heatwaves across India do not affect everyone equally; the experiences of the wealthy and the economically disadvantaged during high temperatures are starkly different.
“2.8 Million People in New Delhi Long for a Drop of Water”
“New Delhi’s Water Wars Rage on Amid Historic Heatwave,” reported Le Monde on July 16. The report highlighted that the capital’s overcrowded and dilapidated water supply network fails to serve all communities, especially slums, leading to a booming informal water tanker business. In the Vivekananda neighborhood, the only public water pump has dried up, and water tankers pass through twice daily. From 6:30 am, young people rush to climb the tankers and attach hoses while another family member fills empty buckets below.
The Hindu recently reported that the heatwaves across the country, especially in New Delhi, have led to severe water shortages, sparking political battles. The Aam Aadmi Party-led New Delhi government accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Haryana state of blocking the Munak Canal’s water supply to New Delhi. In response, the Haryana government blamed New Delhi’s mismanagement for the water shortage. Atish, the head of New Delhi’s water department, went on a hunger strike from June 21 to demand more water from the central government, eventually being hospitalized. Atish stated, “2.8 million people in New Delhi long for a drop of water.”
Water shortages are not unique to New Delhi. According to the Economic Times, a 2018 report by India’s NITI Aayog stated that about 600 million Indians face severe water stress nationwide. By 2030, India’s water demand is projected to be double the current supply, with 40% of the population lacking access to clean drinking water, resulting in a potential GDP loss of about 6%.
A Moody’s report in June indicated that worsening water shortages could affect India’s economic development and credit strength, disrupting agriculture and industry, raising food inflation, and lowering incomes, potentially causing social unrest. “India is one of the most vulnerable countries to risks related to water resource management,” the report stated.
Power Shortages Amidst Extreme Heat
Apart from water shortages, power shortages are another “side effect” of India’s extreme summer heat. The BBC reported that the extreme heat has boosted the air conditioner market, with New Delhi’s electricity consumption hitting a record high. A Global Times special correspondent in India experienced the extreme heat of 52.9°C this year. While it is bearable with sufficient sugar, salt, and water, the real challenge lies in nighttime power shortages. During peak electricity usage, power cuts and intermittent supply are common, often causing air conditioners to fail due to unstable voltage. If lucky, the power disruption lasts a couple of hours; if not, it can affect the entire night. Despite the recent monsoon bringing temperatures down to around 36°C, intermittent power cuts and unstable voltage persist.
“Brutal Summer: New Delhi’s Anxiety over Power and Water,” reported the Times of India in June. A fire at the Mandola power grid in Uttar Pradesh led to a dual crisis of power shortage and soaring temperatures in New Delhi. Residents had to endure the heat without fans and air conditioning, and even public facilities like elevators, escalators, and traffic lights were affected. “The collapse of the national power infrastructure is very worrying,” said Atish, also in charge of New Delhi’s power department. “If the capital’s power infrastructure fails due to the national grid, the consequences will be severe.”
Water and power shortages not only affect residents’ lives but also hinder industries that consume significant amounts of water and electricity. According to the Economic Times, major steel manufacturers JSW Steel and Tata Steel, as well as metal producer Vedanta, have issued water risk warnings in the past month. High-tech industries, such as information technology, are also constrained. The Times of India reported that Bangalore, dubbed “India’s Silicon Valley,” faces water depletion, pushing its tech workforce to relocate. Kerala’s industry and law minister invited some IT firms from Bangalore to move to the state during the water crisis.
Natural and Human Factors
Naturally, India has abundant water resources, but they are unevenly distributed. Rainfall is concentrated from June to September, accounting for over 80% of the annual total. In February 2021, Prime Minister Modi urged people to collect rainwater. Geographically, 36% of India receives an average annual rainfall of over 1500 mm, 8% more than 2500 mm, and 33.5% less than 750 mm.
Human factors such as water pollution and over-extraction of groundwater exacerbate the issue. The Global Times correspondent frequently observed huge white foam caused by pollution in the Yamuna River in New Delhi and the rivers of Bangalore. Polluted Ganges often carries debris and even human corpses. The Indian Express reported in June that to bridge the supply gap, the New Delhi Water Board has increased groundwater extraction over the past five years, resulting in over-exploitation of 41.49% of New Delhi’s area, worsening the decline of groundwater levels.
“Public Works Department and Private Water Tanker Operators Cause Water Shortages,” reported the Times of India on July 16. Aldona legislator Ferriera accused private water tanker operators of colluding with the public works department, causing “man-made water shortages.” He claimed the department deliberately disrupted supply to benefit private water tanker businesses, adding, “Due to unstable supply, people call us to complain, but when we inquire with the water department, they always cite pump failures or other reasons.”
Some scholars blame mining companies for the water crisis. CDP India director Singh stated, “Indian companies acquire water resources at very low prices. When water is so cheap, companies lack the incentive to manage it… Indian companies, including mining companies, have long taken low-cost water use for granted, still adopting an ostrich policy.”
Power Sector Challenges
Amid the worsening water and power crisis, Indian scholars urge the government to improve management. The Center for Science and Environment’s water project director Kapur noted that New Delhi, one of the world’s most densely populated cities, has upscale communities just kilometers away from unplanned slums. “In stark contrast to years of unplanned development, New Delhi’s water quota has remained unchanged since 1994… The current crisis is one of distribution,” he said.
The Times of India analyzed in June that the Indian power grid faces increased demand, insufficient supply, and transmission constraints in summer. Outdated equipment, inadequate infrastructure, and technical losses result in high transmission and distribution losses. Guo Rui, deputy director of the National Development and Security Institute at Jilin University, told the Global Times that India’s distribution network is mainly owned by state governments or private companies, lacking centralized management, making it hard to achieve economies of scale. A single state often has multiple distribution companies, hindering industry consolidation and market concentration.
Compared to the past, India’s power shortage has eased in recent years. In 2019, India’s total power generation and consumption were balanced, and distribution losses dropped from 27% in 2014 to 15.41% in 2022-2023. To diversify power sources and reduce reliance on thermal power, the Indian government introduced clean energy plans. However, according to Energy World, India’s Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation’s March 2024 Energy Statistics Report showed that despite Prime Minister Modi’s promise of at least 5 million tons of annual green hydrogen production by 2030, India still heavily relies on coal as its main energy source. In the 2023 fiscal year, coal-fired power accounted for about 77.01% of India’s total power generation, followed by hydropower and nuclear energy at 7.6%, and natural gas at 6.8%.
“Green hydrogen’s future lies in water-scarce regions, which is ironic,” reported Scroll. Green hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water, a water-intensive industry. However, the hydrogen industry in India, according to NITI Aayog’s industrial cluster map, is concentrated in water-stressed states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. OMI Foundation’s data shows that India consumes about 6 million tons of “grey hydrogen” annually (produced from fossil fuels with CO2 emissions). To produce the same amount of “green hydrogen,” India would need 132 to 192 million tons of water, approximately 10% of New Delhi’s annual water consumption.
“Heat Inequality”
“Heat Inequality,” described by The Washington Post, highlights that India’s poor are more vulnerable to heatwaves. In Kolkata, West Bengal, residents were enraged after a three-day power outage in their area due to the heat, while the nearby luxury Quest Mall was brightly lit and air-conditioned. The mall’s developer RPSG Group also owns a Kolkata power company.
Notably, air conditioning ownership is low in India, with many economically disadvantaged people unable to afford cooling appliances. Only 8% of India’s 300 million households own air conditioners, with wealthier families often owning multiple units. According to Amazon’s appliance section, a 1.5-ton air conditioner costs about 3,000 yuan ($414), and a 1-ton unit costs at least 2,500 yuan ($345). In 2022, the average monthly salary in New Delhi was 41,500 rupees (about 3,607 yuan). Many Indian families still use cost-effective water coolers for cooling.
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