Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Water Resources Management in India–Challenges and the Way Forward


 

Management of water resources in India has been a challenge whose magnitude has risen manifolds over the past 50 years due to a variety of reasons, notably the rising demands and growing environmental degradation. Broadly, most of the challenges in water management in India can be categorized in the following groups: (a) water availability, variability and increasing withdrawals, (b) environment and quality, (c) project construction, (d) water sharing disputes, (e) water governance and institutions, and (f) challenges induced due to climate and land-use cover changes. Here we discuss each of these challenges in detail. It is suggested that conservation of water and management of variabilities should be a cornerstone of water resources management in India. This note also suggests remedies to address the challenges and covers new initiatives by the Government of India (GoI).

Keywords

Artificial Recharge, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Water Governance, Water Resources.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Jain, S. K., Agarwal, P. K. and Singh, V. P., Hydrology and Water Resources of India, Springer Verlag, The Netherlands, 2007.

  • Falkenmark, M., Lundquist, J. and Widstrand, C., Macro-scale water scarcity requires micro-scale approaches: aspects of vulnerability in semi-arid development. Nat. Resour. Forum, 1989, 13(4), 258–267.

  • Jain, S. K., Water resource management in India. Curr. Sci., 2017, 113(7), 1211–112.

  • Canter, L. and Swor, T., Handbook for Cumulative Effects Assessment and Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C., USA, 2011.

  • UNICEF, FAO and SaciWATERs. Water in India: Situation and Prospects. UNICEF, India Country Office, New Delhi, 2013.

  • https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/unsafe-water-stunting-growth-of-indian-children-report-40391

  • Singh, A., Dipankar, S. and Tyagi, A. C. (eds), Water Governance: Challenges and Prospects, Springer Nature, Singapore, 2019.

  • NCIWRD, The Report of National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development Plan, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India, 1999.

  • Mujumdar, P. P. and Tiwari, V. M. (eds), Water Futures of India: Status of Science and Technology, IISc/INSA, India, 2019.

  • NITI Aayog, Strategy for New India @ 75, National Institution for Transforming India, New Delhi, 2018.

  • CWC, Water and related statistics. Water Planning Project Wing, Central Water Commission, New Delhi, 2005.


Abstract Views: 380

PDF Views: 121




  • Water Resources Management in India–Challenges and the Way Forward

Abstract Views: 380  |  PDF Views: 121

Authors

Abstract


Management of water resources in India has been a challenge whose magnitude has risen manifolds over the past 50 years due to a variety of reasons, notably the rising demands and growing environmental degradation. Broadly, most of the challenges in water management in India can be categorized in the following groups: (a) water availability, variability and increasing withdrawals, (b) environment and quality, (c) project construction, (d) water sharing disputes, (e) water governance and institutions, and (f) challenges induced due to climate and land-use cover changes. Here we discuss each of these challenges in detail. It is suggested that conservation of water and management of variabilities should be a cornerstone of water resources management in India. This note also suggests remedies to address the challenges and covers new initiatives by the Government of India (GoI).

Keywords


Artificial Recharge, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Water Governance, Water Resources.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv117%2Fi4%2F569-576