That also means less water for thirsty cities, including Delhi, where 18m people live and the water board meets around half their demand in a good year.

ECONOMIST: India's water crisis: When the rains fail | The

But the apparent scarcity of water for thirsty cities and suburbs largely reflects its profligate use by farmers, who pay almost nothing for the stuff.

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But some experts believe pickings could be slim as thirsty birds desert traditional moorland and head for water.

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In South Asia, for example, climate change is likely to bring more water to a perennially thirsty region.

ECONOMIST: Climate change