Evolution of Water Use in India and State Development Management

Abstract

In the context of the ongoing degradation of water resources, new approaches to water management in the context of transition to sustainable development of green economy are required. India is one of the fi rst countries that faced the need to address global challenges in their regional perspective. The article analyzes the evolution of concepts and practices of water use in India. Resistance to looming water crisis occupies a central place in the system of management of development of the country. Policy changes of water use are associated with different stages of evolution of the transition economy, on the one hand, and the infl uence of natural and environmental limits, on the other. The stages of evolution of water use are divided: (1) state-led building of complex hydraulic structures in large river basins (1950–1980) – the main source of expansion of irrigated land and development of hydropower in the country; (2) massive use of groundwater – construction of tube wells with electropomps subsidized by the state (peaking in the 1990s), leading to their depletion; (3) escalation of water crisis in the early 2000s century – emphasis on the rationalization of water use and technological innovation; (4) preparation of the Law on water (2013) based on the concept of integrated river basin development; (5) the study of promising projects of inter-basin transfer of river waters. India’s experience refl ects the complexity of the problem of transition to sustainable use of natural resources. Ensuring water security requires addressing interrelated naturalenvironmental, socio-economic and administrative–political problems at the regional, state and international levels. This is possible when conducting science-based policy oriented toward implementation of sustainable development principles.