📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and
Local
Delhi Faces 1,600 MGD Water Shortage by 2047, Depends on Neighboring States
✍️ Amar Ujala · Delhi
🗓 18 Aug 2026, 04:47 AM
👁 1
Delhi’s master plan projects a population of 3.2 crore by 2047, creating a 1,600 MGD water demand that will force the city to rely on neighboring states. The projected shortage highlights the need for urgent water management strategies.
Delhi’s master plan estimates that by 2047 the city’s population will reach about 32 million, a sharp rise that will strain existing water supplies.
To meet the projected demand, the city will need approximately 1,600 million gallons per day (MGD) of water – a figure that far exceeds current supply levels.
With local sources insufficient, Delhi will have to depend heavily on water transferred from neighboring states such as Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. This inter‑state reliance could create new logistical and political challenges.
Experts warn that without aggressive water conservation, new sourcing projects, and improved infrastructure, Delhi could face severe shortages in the coming decades.
To meet the projected demand, the city will need approximately 1,600 million gallons per day (MGD) of water – a figure that far exceeds current supply levels.
With local sources insufficient, Delhi will have to depend heavily on water transferred from neighboring states such as Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. This inter‑state reliance could create new logistical and political challenges.
Experts warn that without aggressive water conservation, new sourcing projects, and improved infrastructure, Delhi could face severe shortages in the coming decades.