Water Management in India Needs a New Course: Toward an Integrated, Resilient Future

On the occasion of World Water Day 2025, observed globally on March 22, the United Nations emphasized "Glacier Preservation" and launched the International Year of Glacier’s Preservation. The UN World Water Development Report 2025, with the theme "Mountain and Glaciers – Water Towers", highlighted the critical importance of integrated mountain water governance and the need for a shift from fragmented, linear water management to a Source-to-Sea (S2S) approach. These insights resonate deeply with India’s growing water crisis marked by groundwater depletion, inter-state disputes, and climate-induced stress.

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Table of Contents:

1. Introduction: India's Looming Water Crisis

2. Historical Context: Water Management and Policy Evolution in India

3. Understanding the Source-to-Sea (S2S) Approach

4. Key Challenges in India’s Current Water Governance

5. International Best Practices: What India Can Learn

6. Legal and Administrative Reforms Needed

7. Social and Economic Impacts of Mismanagement

8. The Road Ahead: A Vision for Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM)

9. Conclusion: Toward a Blue Economy and Water Resilience

1. Introduction: India's Looming Water Crisis

India is home to 18% of the world’s population but has only 4% of the global freshwater resources. As per NITI Aayog’s Composite Water Management Index (2018), 21 major Indian cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad are expected to run out of groundwater by 2030. The water crisis is not limited to urban areas; around 600 million people face high to extreme water stress, according to a 2019 NITI Aayog Report.

Yet, the issue is not merely about scarcity- it is a question of mismanagement, fragmented governance, outdated legal regimes, and weak inter-state coordination.

2. Historical Context: Water Management and Policy Evolution in India

India’s water governance has largely followed a supply-side and sectoral approach, rooted in colonial-era irrigation laws such as the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873. Post-independence, the focus shifted to large dams and irrigation projects (e.g., Bhakra-Nangal, Hirakud), championed by Nehru as the “temples of modern India.”

Key developments:

• 1974: Establishment of Central Ground Water Board

• 1987: First National Water Policy (NWP) drafted

• 2012: Revised NWP emphasized water as an economic good and promoted community participation

• 2023 Draft NWP: Yet to be adopted; it calls for sustainable development, river basin management, and climate-resilient planning

3. Understanding the Source-to-Sea (S2S) Approach

The S2S approach, advocated by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and UNEP, recognizes the interconnectedness of mountains, rivers, floodplains, estuaries, and oceans. It advocates holistic, ridge-to-reef governance involving all stakeholders communities, industry, agriculture, local and national governments.

Key Principles:

• Treat river basins as single planning units

• Combine scientific modelling with local knowledge

• Ensure equity in upstream-downstream water access

• Integrate freshwater and marine policy frameworks

4. Key Challenges in India’s Current Water Governance:

a) Fragmented Legal Framework:

Water is a State subject, leading to conflicting laws, limited central coordination, and inter-state river disputes (e.g., Cauvery, Krishna, Ravi-Beas).

b) Unsustainable Groundwater Extraction:

India uses ~60% of its freshwater from groundwater; Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan show >100% extraction rates. 70% of irrigation depends on groundwater.

c) Pollution and Urban Wastewater

Over 70% of surface water is polluted by untreated sewage. The Yamuna in Delhi receives over 3,000 MLD of wastewater daily.

d) Climate Vulnerabilities

Glacial retreat in the Himalayas and erratic monsoons threaten river flows. Floods and droughts are becoming more intense and frequent.

e) Institutional Weakness

Multiple agencies like CWC, CGWB, CPCB, Jal Shakti Ministry, and local bodies operate in silos.

5. International Best Practices: What India Can Learn

India’s Atal Bhujal Yojana (2020), with community-based groundwater budgeting in 7 states, is a step in the right direction, inspired by Australia’s model.

6. Legal and Administrative Reforms Needed:

• Enact a comprehensive National Water Framework Law (pending since 2016)

• Establish River Basin Authorities for major rivers

• Mandate water audit and water footprint labelling for industries

• Expand Jal Jeevan Mission to include greywater recycling and S2S planning

• Reform Groundwater regulation under Model Bill (2017)

• Create an Integrated Water Data Platform accessible to all stakeholders

7. Social and Economic Impacts of Mismanagement:

• Health: Poor water quality leads to 2 lakh+ deaths annually from water-borne diseases (WHO)

• Agriculture: 80% of water goes to irrigation; yet water-use efficiency is <40%

• Gender: Women in rural India walk 2–5 km daily to fetch water

• Economy: World Bank estimates water crisis could shave 6% off India’s GDP by 2050

8. The Road Ahead: A Vision for Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM):

India must:

• Shift from supply-side augmentation to demand-side management

• Incentivize crop diversification (e.g., millets over paddy in Punjab)

• Invest in nature-based solutions like wetlands, forests, catchments

• Build hydro-diplomacy with neighbours (Nepal, Bhutan, China, Bangladesh)

• Leverage digital tools: remote sensing, AI-based monitoring, IoT-enabled meters

The Ganga River Basin Management Plan by IIT Consortium and the National Hydrology Project are pioneering models but need stronger interlinkage with climate and social equity agendas.

9. Conclusion: Toward a Blue Economy and Water Resilience:

India’s water crisis demands a paradigm shift. Water must be seen not just as a natural resource but as a strategic asset essential for health, economy, national security, and ecological sustainability.

A unified, inclusive and scientific water governance regime anchored in the S2S approach and IWRM principles can ensure that India meets the aspirations of Jal Shakti, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-6).