Water in South Asia

South Asia is endowed with vast water resources but available water is unevenly distributed. About 20 percent of the population lack access to water services. Inadequate drinking water and sanitation services cause water related diseases.

Water resources in South Asia are distributed unevenly. Some areas get too much and some get too little water. There are also seasonal variations, and climatic variability contributes its share to management challenges.

Iirrigation is key to agricultural growth, rural development, and food security. Irrigated agriculture accounts for 60-80% of food production in the region.

Environmental Services

South Asia enjoys an abundance of aquatic biodiversity, and it's home to some of the world's most important wetlands.

Hydropower

By 2010, South Asian countries are projected to consume twice the amount of primary commercial energy they were consuming in 1999, which would make the region's energy consumption growth rate the highest in the world.