Arghyam at 25: Reflecting on India’s water journey and reimagining the future
Climate Change and India’s Unfinished Water Agenda The keynote address by environmentalist Sunita Narain placed the day’s reflections within the wider context of climate change and water security. Drawing on recent meteorological trends, Narain delivered a stark warning. “India has seen one extreme weather event almost every day in 2025,” she says. Individual disasters may dominate headlines, she argued, but the cumulative picture reveals the true scale of the crisis. She adds, "The full picture tells you the scale of the crisis.” Climate change is altering India’s hydrological reality. Sunita says, "You will see more rain because the heating of the oceans will lead to more rain, but in fewer hours.” The consequences include more intense flooding, reduced groundwater recharge, prolonged dry spells and greater vulnerability for agriculture and drinking water systems. Yet Narain’s central message was not about inventing new solutions. “We are not talking about a newfangled agenda. We are talking about the scale and speed of the old agenda,” she says. Rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, watershed restoration, water-efficient livelihoods, wastewater reuse and local stewardship remain the right answers. The challenge is implementing them at the pace demanded by climate change. Reflecting on the evolution of India’s water sector, she noted, "Rain is decentralised; so is the supply of water.” Narain highlighted several achievements, including more than 100 million water-related assets created under MGNREGA, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, around 70,000 rejuvenated water bodies under the Amrit Sarovar initiative, nearly 158 million household tap connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission and more than 120 million rural toilets constructed under the Swachh Bharat Mission. “The government policy has been dynamic. It has learnt from what I call the development laboratory.” But she cautioned against complacency. “Groundwater is still treated as minor irrigation,” she said. Among the priorities she identified were stronger local institutions, improved groundwater governance and better convergence between sectors responsible for land, forests, water and ecosystems. Her critique of urban water management was equally sharp. “Cities do not consume water. They take water and, they give back waste.” The future, she argued, demands accountability not only for water supply but also for pollution and ecological stewardship. Her final message resonated throughout the hall. “The pilot project phase is over.”