Policies for sustaining groundwater resources in India

Abstract:

This paper develops an integrated policy framework for groundwater, based on Indian conditions, that identifies four policy types that target depletion, recharge, contamination and treatment. Socio‐economic implications and income inequalities are discussed with special reference to a case study in South India. The sustainability indicators considered in this paper have not shown positive signs especially groundwater level, quality, and distribution of income among different categories of farmers. An integrated watershed based policy package covering both structural and nonstructural policies is suggested in this paper for achieving groundwater sustainability.

Keywords:

• Groundwater depletion
• sustainability
• watershed approach
• structural and non‐structural policies
• socio‐economic implications
• India