Social and Ecological Framework for the Allocation of Water Resources: The Challenge for Water Security in India

Who gets water, when, how, and under what conditions are fundamental questions before every society, since water is vital for life, good health, and development. India, the most populous country and a fastest growing economy is facing the twin issues of scarcity and allocation of water, as it needs to manage the water requirements of a larger population with just 4% of the water resources. Together with relative and absolute water stress and scarcity, there is the mounting demand for water for domestic uses, agriculture, commerce, and industry, pollution, decline of water bodies, impacts of climate change, sectoral conflicts, and disputes regarding sharing of water resources. So a strategically scarce resource having alternative uses is to be distributed to a population that is diverse, socially, culturally, economically, and politically. When the multiple uses associated with water make its allocation complex, the degree of inclusiveness and exclusiveness in access to water makes it more complicated. This necessitates a policy framework that can address the issues of social equity, efficiency, and ecological sustainability simultaneously, within the broader context of water security.