Indian Water Policy at the Crossroads: Resources, Technology and Reforms (Global Issues in Water Policy, 16)

This book reviews and analyzes emerging challenges in water policy, governance and institutions in India. Recent times have seen the contours of water policy shaped by new discourses and narratives; there has been a pluralization of the state and a changing balance of power among the actors who influence the formulation of water policy. Discourses on gender mainstreaming and Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) are influential, though they have often remained rhetorical and difficult to put into practice. Debate over property rights reform and inter-linking of rivers has been polarized. At the same time, there has been a rising disenchantment with policy initiatives in participatory irrigation management, cleaning up of water bodies and pollution control. Fast depletion of groundwater resources and the importance of adopting new irrigation methods are getting increased focus in the recent policy dialogue. The contributors review current debate on these and other subjects shaping the governance of water resources, and take stock of new policy developments. The book examines the experience of policy implementation, and shows where important weaknesses still lie. The authors present a roadmap for the future, and discuss the potential of alternative approaches for tackling emerging challenges. A case is made for greater emphasis on a discursive analysis of water policy, to examine underlying policy processes. The contributors observe that the ongoing democratization of water governance, coupled with the multiplication of stresses on water, will create a more visible demand for platforms for negotiation, conflict resolution and dialogue across different categories of users and uses. Finally, the authors propose that future research should challenge implicit biases in water resources planning and address imbalances in the allocation of water from the perspectives of both equity and sustainability. Contents 6 Contributors 8 Chapter 1: Introduction: Towards a Discursive Analysis of Indian Water Policy 10 1.1 Changing Paradigms and Debates in Indian Water Policy 13 1.1.1 The Challenges of Groundwater Management, Water Rights Reform and Other Regulatory Approaches 14 1.1.2 Gender and Integrated Water Resource Management in India 15 1.1.3 Expanding Access to Clean Water and Sanitation 16 1.1.4 Technological Solutions and the Inter-linking of Rivers 17 1.1.5 Independent Regulatory Authorities: Balancing Autonomy and Control 18 1.2 Indian Water Policy and Governance Research for the Future 18 References 19 Chapter 2: The Precept and Practice of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in India 23 2.1 IWRM: A Response to Water Scarcity 23 2.2 Water Poverty: Is It Caused by Water Scarcity? 25 2.3 IWRM in an Informal Water Economy 28 2.4 IWRM Experience in Asia and Africa: Lessons for India 30 2.5 Economic Development and the Organization of a Water Economy 34 2.6 Summary and Conclusion 37 References 39 Chapter 3: Groundwater Depletion in India: Potential of Alternative Approaches and Policy Instruments 42 3.1 Introduction 42 3.2 Extent of Groundwater Overexploitation in India 43 3.3 Institutional Arrangements for Groundwater Management in India 46 3.4 Can Water Rights and Energy Pricing Emerge as Better Options? 47 3.5 Water Rights as an Instrument to Manage Groundwater 48 3.6 Pricing Energy for Limiting Groundwater Use 49 3.7 Conclusion and Policy Implication 52 References 53 Chapter 4: Drinking Water Supply in India: Context and Prospects 56 4.1 Introduction 57 4.2 History of Indian Water Supply Policy and Implementation 58 4.2.1 Rural Water Supply and Sanitation 58 4.2.2 Urban Water Supply and Sanitation 62 4.3 Water Supply Institutional Structure and Delivery Mechanisms 63 4.3.1 Rural Institutional Structure 63 4.3.2 Urban Institutional Structure 65 4.4 The Current Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Scenario in India 66 4.4.1 Rural 66 4.4.2 Urban 68 4.5 Challenges in Ensuring ‘Water for All’ 70 4.5.1 Economic Challenges 70 4.5.2 Political Challenges in Ensuring Water as a Human Right 71 4.5.3 Environmental Challenge of Dealing with Water Availability and Scarcity 72 4.5.4 The Challenges of Equity and Distribution in Water Supply 74 4.5.5 Institutional Issues 75 4.6 Conclusions 76 References 77 Chapter 5: Gender and Water in India: A Review 79 5.1 The Historical Context 79 5.2 Global Policy Changes in Water 81 5.3 The Gender and Water Literature: An Overview 82 5.4 Rivers, Dams and Displacement 83 5.5 Domestic Water: Female Domain 85 5.6 Water for Production: The Male Domain 87 5.7 Concluding Remarks 94 References 95 Chapter 6: Independent Regulatory Agencies in Water Sector in India: Debate and Discourse 98 6.1 Introduction 99 6.2 The Rise of Regulatory State 100 6.3 Institutional Transplantation 101 6.4 Rationale for IRA in Water 103 6.5 Substantive Values: Equity and Efficiency 106 6.5.1 Cost Recovery Principle 106 6.5.2 Efficient Water Allocation 107 6.6 Depoliticization through Expertocratic Regulatory Process 108 6.7 Way Ahead 110 References 112 Chapter 7: River Linking Project: A Solution or Problem to India’s Water Woes? 114 7.1 Introduction 114 7.2 The NRLP Project 116 7.2.1 Himalayan and Peninsular Component 116 7.2.2 Grandiosity of the NRLP 117 7.3 Justification of the NRLP 118 7.3.1 Augmenting Utilizable Water Supply 118 7.3.2 Meeting Food Self Sufficiency 119 7.4 Analyses of Core Assumptions 120 7.4.1 Demographic Change 120 7.4.2 Food Self Sufficiency 120 7.4.3 Yield Growth 121 7.4.4 Future of Irrigation 121 7.4.5 Irrigation Efficiency 123 7.4.6 Rain-fed Agriculture 123 7.4.7 Eco-system Water Needs 124 7.5 Implications of NRLP Water Transfers 124 7.5.1 Hydrological Feasibility 124 7.5.2 Environmental Impacts 126 7.5.3 Irrigation Benefits 126 7.5.4 Social Costs 128 7.5.5 Resources Mobilization 129 7.5.6 Trans-boundary Conflicts 129 7.6 Conclusion 130 References 132 Chapter 8: Water Pollution: Extent, Impact, and Abatement 136 8.1 Introduction 136 8.2 Water Pollution Scenario in India 137 8.3 Impacts of Pollution 141 8.4 Pollution Management 144 8.4.1 Legislative Framework 145 8.4.2 Policy Framework 147 8.4.3 Programmes 148 8.4.4 Industrial Pollution Management 150 8.5 Water Pollution Control Efforts: Emerging Lessons 151 8.6 Conclusion 152 References 155 Chapter 9: Regulatory Instruments and Demand Management of Water: Potential and Prospects 157 9.1 Introduction 158 9.2 Regulatory Instruments: Types and Nature 159 9.2.1 Direct and Indirect Regulation 159 9.2.1.1 Surface Water 160 9.2.1.2 Groundwater 162 9.2.1.3 Technology 163 9.2.2 Economic Regulation 164 9.2.2.1 Surface Water 165 9.2.2.2 Groundwater 165 9.2.3 Social Regulation 166 9.3 Effectiveness of Regulatory Instruments: Review of Experience 168 9.3.1 Knowledge Based Approach 173 9.3.2 Social Regulation Approach 176 9.4 Lessons for Future 178 References 179 Chapter 10: Water Rights and Entitlements in India 183 10.1 Introduction 183 10.2 Objectives and Scope 185 10.3 Water Rights and Entitlements: An Overview of Issues 186 10.3.1 Incentive Issues 186 10.3.2 Technical, Legal, and Organizational Issues 187 10.3.3 Economic and Political Issues 192 10.4 Evolution of Water Rights at Different Levels 194 10.5 Opportunity Costs of Missing Rights 200 10.6 Establishing Water Rights: Potential and Prospects 203 10.7 Concluding Remarks 207 References 209 Chapter 11: Water Saving Technology in India: Adoption and Impacts 212 11.1 Introduction 212 11.2 Promotional Activities on Drip Irrigation in India 215 11.3 Nature and Extent of Adoption of WST 216 11.4 Impact of WST on Water Saving, Crop Productivity and Farm Income 218 11.4.1 Water Saving 218 11.4.2 Electricity Saving 221 11.4.3 Productivity Gains 223 11.5 Economic Viability of Drip Investment 224 11.6 Pointers for Future Research and Policy 230 References 233 Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction: Towards a Discursive Analysis of Indian Water Policy....Pages 1-13 The Precept and Practice of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in India....Pages 15-33 Groundwater Depletion in India: Potential of Alternative Approaches and Policy Instruments....Pages 35-48 Drinking Water Supply in India: Context and Prospects....Pages 49-71 Gender and Water in India: A Review....Pages 73-91 Independent Regulatory Agencies in Water Sector in India: Debate and Discourse....Pages 93-108 River Linking Project: A Solution or Problem to India’s Water Woes?....Pages 109-130 Water Pollution: Extent, Impact, and Abatement....Pages 131-151 Regulatory Instruments and Demand Management of Water: Potential and Prospects....Pages 153-178 Water Rights and Entitlements in India....Pages 179-207 Water Saving Technology in India: Adoption and Impacts....Pages 209-231