years, although levels vary widely. The inefficiency is largely due to capital
expenditure, which needs to be utilized properly through faster completion of
projects, the authors argue. The magnitude of the capital needed for implementation
and management versus the inputs generated at the Centre and state level too have a
mismatch. Relative influence of Centre in project implementation is also governed
by the relative shares of capital being infused in the projects. Low-efficiency scores
may also suggest that public irrigation is not well placed, suggesting need for better
management. Public policy should focus more on outcomes rather than on outlays,
suggest the authors.
Khurana and Sen highlight the twin challenges of water quantity and quality in
the fourth chapter. Challenges of quality are yet to be addressed in a holistic way for
generating better and efficient utilization of the available resources. Improving
water quality is going to need a basket of options ranging from policy-level
interventions and implementation, real-time data that informs decision making,
preventive and mitigation technologies, enforcement and public awareness, participation and oversight. The best way would be to prevent pollution from taking
place and using technologies that either do not pollute or are able to treat the
effluents, so that there is no toxic discharge. This cannot happen overnight, but an
implementable action plan could make this a reality. Agricultural pollution will
need to be addressed through minimizing chemical input use and the scaled-up
adoption of integrated pest management and organic farming. Financial instruments
will be needed for this.
The authors highlight the fact that the issue of water quality has now reached
dangerous levels and needs a completely new perspective to address it. Any effort
on this front requires serious commitment and a long-term vision and plan.
They posit that addressing industrial pollution will require shifting from
concentration-based standards to pollution load-based standards. The practice of
following of concentration-based standards in India is unable to keep an effective
check on the polluting industries. A common data grid of the water quality monitoring sites of various agencies that monitor water quality like the Central Water
Commission, Central Ground Water Board, Central and State Pollution Control
Boards, Water Provisioning Department and Utilities need to be integrated so as to
provide a robust system of data and information to help water utilities, citizens and
government take measures for addressing pollution and define management actions.
Excellent examples are available for reuse of wastewater, but adoption by the
communities remains a challenge. Community awareness coupled with adequate
monitoring and supply re-allocation measures can help, the authors note.
In the fifth chapter, Kumar et al. make a strong case for providing space to
wetlands in water management plans, pointing out the merit of looking at wetlands
as nature-based solutions. The authors underline that wetlands, as ecosystems at the
interface of land and water, have a significant role in ensuring water & climate
security in India given their role in the water cycle and multiple hydrological
functions. The rapid loss of natural wetlands is as much a threat to water and
climate security as is an environmental crisis.
Introduction
vii
expenditure, which needs to be utilized properly through faster completion of
projects, the authors argue. The magnitude of the capital needed for implementation
and management versus the inputs generated at the Centre and state level too have a
mismatch. Relative influence of Centre in project implementation is also governed
by the relative shares of capital being infused in the projects. Low-efficiency scores
may also suggest that public irrigation is not well placed, suggesting need for better
management. Public policy should focus more on outcomes rather than on outlays,
suggest the authors.
Khurana and Sen highlight the twin challenges of water quantity and quality in
the fourth chapter. Challenges of quality are yet to be addressed in a holistic way for
generating better and efficient utilization of the available resources. Improving
water quality is going to need a basket of options ranging from policy-level
interventions and implementation, real-time data that informs decision making,
preventive and mitigation technologies, enforcement and public awareness, participation and oversight. The best way would be to prevent pollution from taking
place and using technologies that either do not pollute or are able to treat the
effluents, so that there is no toxic discharge. This cannot happen overnight, but an
implementable action plan could make this a reality. Agricultural pollution will
need to be addressed through minimizing chemical input use and the scaled-up
adoption of integrated pest management and organic farming. Financial instruments
will be needed for this.
The authors highlight the fact that the issue of water quality has now reached
dangerous levels and needs a completely new perspective to address it. Any effort
on this front requires serious commitment and a long-term vision and plan.
They posit that addressing industrial pollution will require shifting from
concentration-based standards to pollution load-based standards. The practice of
following of concentration-based standards in India is unable to keep an effective
check on the polluting industries. A common data grid of the water quality monitoring sites of various agencies that monitor water quality like the Central Water
Commission, Central Ground Water Board, Central and State Pollution Control
Boards, Water Provisioning Department and Utilities need to be integrated so as to
provide a robust system of data and information to help water utilities, citizens and
government take measures for addressing pollution and define management actions.
Excellent examples are available for reuse of wastewater, but adoption by the
communities remains a challenge. Community awareness coupled with adequate
monitoring and supply re-allocation measures can help, the authors note.
In the fifth chapter, Kumar et al. make a strong case for providing space to
wetlands in water management plans, pointing out the merit of looking at wetlands
as nature-based solutions. The authors underline that wetlands, as ecosystems at the
interface of land and water, have a significant role in ensuring water & climate
security in India given their role in the water cycle and multiple hydrological
functions. The rapid loss of natural wetlands is as much a threat to water and
climate security as is an environmental crisis.
Introduction
vii