39-Sectoral Allocation and Pricing of Groundwater - A Stakeholder View

Abstract

The approach of policy makers and planners at Central and State is to move towards a regime where groundwater resources and their uses are regulated and access and provision of resource are charged for. However, the process of evolution of such a regime is at a very preliminary stage and a sustainable policy is required to be formulated which is equitable and just for all sectors. The willingness of user to pay is subject to dependability of the resource which in turn requires integrated multi-dimensional management approach. It requires clear cut policy of entitlements, allocation, access and pricing structure. A regime of water rights and access is necessary to address the inequities arising out of various actions. The paper discusses above issues as well as suggests alternate water markets with respect to types of sources—surface water or ground water. This paper also suggests an alternate basis for cost-benefit analysis where reduction in State expenditures on mitigation, employment and poverty alleviation is considered as a sustainable benefit due to provision of water to stress areas. Water conservation, harvesting and recharge structures and treatments may be considered on par with head-works in surface schemes for the purpose of pricing as also for sustainable repairs and maintenance of these. Pricing policies and/or practices in couple of other countries have been briefly highlighted.