28-Groundwater Governance - The Indian Scenario.

Abstract

Groundwater is the primary source of irrigation, domestic and industrial use in India. Overexploitation of ground water during the past three decades has led to falling water tables, deteriorating groundwater quality and pollution necessitating a long-term policy to protect its overuse. Switching over from development to management, supply-side to demand-side management, enacting and forcing groundwater laws, establishing clear tradable property rights, pricing of ground water, installing licensing and permitting systems, strengthening institutions/processes to enable management, creating incentives, etc. are some of the means to impart sustainability to groundwater use in the country.