1 Introduction
Water challenges in India are deepening with intensifying impacts of climate
change, reducing per capita water availability, equity concerns and growing water
conflicts (World Bank 2005; Cronin et al. 2014; Jain 2019). The Government of
India, of late, has rightly accorded high priority to water in its development agenda
and has taken strategic steps such as consolidation of institutional landscape for
water by creating Jal Shakti Ministry in 2019 (merging the erstwhile Ministry of
Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and Ministry of
Drinking Water and Sanitation) and adopting a mission of ‘water for all’ (GoI
2020).
Wetlands, which form an integral part of water cycle and perform multiple
hydrological functions, have a significant role in ensuring water and climate
security of the country. Forging ‘natural infrastructure’ of wetlands (da Silva and
Wheeler 2017) with the conventional ‘physical infrastructure’ of water resources
can bring multiple advantages to the water sector, provided the role these ecosystems play in the hydrology of a landscape is systematically taken into account in
policy and programming decisions.
This chapter looks into the interconnections between wetlands and water management and builds a case for integration of wetlands into water sector policies and
programmes. It is argued that the rapid loss of natural wetlands is not just a crisis
for environment, but also for water and climate security.
By transforming the available science on the role of wetlands into practical
actions, the two sectors of wetlands and water which have historically pursued
disparate trajectories can capitalize on mutually supportive outcomes towards
building resilience. The arguments are presented in seven sections. The section
following introduction looks into the scientific basis for integrating wetlands into
water management and the enabling mechanisms thereof. The next two sections
contain discussions on trajectories of water resources development and wetlands
management and the extent to which sectoral coordination opportunities have been
taken into account. Joined-up policy and programming opportunities, as well as
science, policy and practice barriers limiting integration of wetlands in water
resources management, are discussed in sections five and six. Section seven concludes with recommendations for the two sectors to collaborate for building water
resilience. Throughout the discussions, the reference to water sector encompasses
institutions, groups, agencies and organizations responsible for regulatory, operational and institutional aspects of water policy, programmes and regulation.
Similarly, the reference to wetlands sector is to institutions, organizations, groups
and agencies responsible for regulatory, operational and institutional aspects of
wetlands policy, programmes and regulation.
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R. Kumar et al.
Water challenges in India are deepening with intensifying impacts of climate
change, reducing per capita water availability, equity concerns and growing water
conflicts (World Bank 2005; Cronin et al. 2014; Jain 2019). The Government of
India, of late, has rightly accorded high priority to water in its development agenda
and has taken strategic steps such as consolidation of institutional landscape for
water by creating Jal Shakti Ministry in 2019 (merging the erstwhile Ministry of
Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and Ministry of
Drinking Water and Sanitation) and adopting a mission of ‘water for all’ (GoI
2020).
Wetlands, which form an integral part of water cycle and perform multiple
hydrological functions, have a significant role in ensuring water and climate
security of the country. Forging ‘natural infrastructure’ of wetlands (da Silva and
Wheeler 2017) with the conventional ‘physical infrastructure’ of water resources
can bring multiple advantages to the water sector, provided the role these ecosystems play in the hydrology of a landscape is systematically taken into account in
policy and programming decisions.
This chapter looks into the interconnections between wetlands and water management and builds a case for integration of wetlands into water sector policies and
programmes. It is argued that the rapid loss of natural wetlands is not just a crisis
for environment, but also for water and climate security.
By transforming the available science on the role of wetlands into practical
actions, the two sectors of wetlands and water which have historically pursued
disparate trajectories can capitalize on mutually supportive outcomes towards
building resilience. The arguments are presented in seven sections. The section
following introduction looks into the scientific basis for integrating wetlands into
water management and the enabling mechanisms thereof. The next two sections
contain discussions on trajectories of water resources development and wetlands
management and the extent to which sectoral coordination opportunities have been
taken into account. Joined-up policy and programming opportunities, as well as
science, policy and practice barriers limiting integration of wetlands in water
resources management, are discussed in sections five and six. Section seven concludes with recommendations for the two sectors to collaborate for building water
resilience. Throughout the discussions, the reference to water sector encompasses
institutions, groups, agencies and organizations responsible for regulatory, operational and institutional aspects of water policy, programmes and regulation.
Similarly, the reference to wetlands sector is to institutions, organizations, groups
and agencies responsible for regulatory, operational and institutional aspects of
wetlands policy, programmes and regulation.
106
R. Kumar et al.