Abstract:
In the years to come, India will be highly vulnerable to the impacts of rising sea level,
floods and droughts, water pollution, and the associated health hazards. In addition
to the severe effect of water-related concerns on health and heat stress, water scarcity
problems would also impact generation of electricity, both in hydel and thermal power
sectors, industrial production, which often requires large volumes of water, and irrigation,
which again is highly water-based. To address such severe concerns in the realm
of unavailability of water in desired quantity and quality, many industry initiatives
have been implemented. However, the challenge is huge and full industry participation
in this endeavour is still awaited in India. Private sector participation would be a
relevant and much-needed initiative to the cause of water management in the country.
However, the inclination of private sector in taking up such initiatives has not been
ascertained yet.
Therefore, an empirical academic research was undertaken to determine (a) if there is an
awareness in private sector in India with regard to existence and impacts of water crisis
and (b) if such awareness would lead to voluntary participation on the part of private
sector. A research instrument in the form of survey questionnaire was administered on
a population of practising managers across the country. Thereafter, structural equation
modelling was carried out to analyse the data, thus, obtained.
The research concludes that there is significant awareness that (a) water crisis does
exist in India, (b) there is a possibility of spread of disease due to water stress, and
that (c) private sector could help in recycling, treatment of wastewater, and conservation
initiatives.
Further, the research also shows a significant link between awareness about disease
impacts due to water stress and propensity to support individual initiatives. The awareness
that private sector could help in recycling and treatment of wastewater and in
conservation initiatives would lead to voluntary participation of private sector both in
the organizational capacity as well as in managers taking up individual initiatives.
