Ganga-Indus Rivers Face Opposite Fates: India's Looming Water Crisis Revealed

• Indus and Ganga river systems are flowing in opposite directions: Indus water levels increasing, Ganga basin rapidly drying up.
• IIT Gandhinagar study reveals 8% increase in Indus basin flow and a significant 17% decrease in Ganga basin flow over four decades (1980-2021).
• Ganga's decline is the fastest in 1,300 years, threatening billions; primarily due to uncontrolled groundwater extraction for irrigation, not just reduced rainfall.
• Increased Indus flow linked to Western Disturbances and changing monsoon patterns, but eastern tributaries (Ravi, Sutlej) are decreasing, impacting India's share under Indus Water Treaty.
• Urgent need to re-evaluate water-sharing agreements, regulate groundwater, and adopt climate-resilient water management to avert a severe crisis.