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Distressed Elephants: Policy Initiatives for Sustainable Groundwater Management in India

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  • M. Dinesh Kumar
Abstract
This article reviews the dominant arguments which shaped public policies in the agricultural groundwater sector in India. It also examines the initiatives to arrest groundwater depletion. It is a synthesis of the research carried out by the author over the last two decades and review of the work by others. Following were the arguments that shaped public policies in the agricultural groundwater sector in India, as per the review: high density of farm wells in remote areas increases the transaction cost of metering and charging for electricity on a pro-rata basis, as a tool to control groundwater draft; groundwater economy is controlled by small and marginal farmers, and attempts to regulate it are politically sensitive; and raising power tariff would adversely affect farmers who buy water. Furthermore, the regions with high density of wells do not experience intensive groundwater use; groundwater economy is mainly controlled by large farmers. In water-abundant regions, subsidized power does not reduce the monopoly of water sellers; in water-scarce regions, an increase in power tariff would have only marginal effect on it; and, in semi-arid regions, raising farm power tariff would result in improved efficiency, equity and sustainability in groundwater use and would be socio-economically viable. In water-scarce regions, the large public funds spent for watershed management, dug well recharging and community-based water harvesting produce no positive outcomes. Attempts to introduce electricity pricing or groundwater taxes or water rights are absent. Schemes promoting the use of micro irrigation do raise farm productivity, but leave no incentive among farmers to reduce water use.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Dinesh Kumar, 2016. "Distressed Elephants: Policy Initiatives for Sustainable Groundwater Management in India," IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, , vol. 5(1), pages 51-62, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:iimkoz:v:5:y:2016:i:1:p:51-62
    DOI: 10.1177/2277975215617266
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kumar, Dinesh M. & Ghosh, Shantanu & Patel, Ankit & Singh, Omprakash & Ravindranath, R., 2006. "Rainwater harvesting in India: some critical issues for basin planning and research," IWMI Research Reports H044538, International Water Management Institute.
    2. Shah, Tushaar & Scott, C. & Kishore, A. & Sharma, A., 2003. "Energy-irrigation nexus in South Asia: Improving groundwater conservation and power sector viability," IWMI Research Reports H033885, International Water Management Institute.
    3. Shah, T., 2001. "Wells and welfare in the Ganga Basin: Public policy and private initiative in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India," IWMI Research Reports H028784, International Water Management Institute.
    4. Kumar, M. Dinesh & Ghosh, Shantanu & Patel, Ankit & Singh, Om Prakash & Ravindranath, R., 2006. "Rainwater harvesting in India: some critical issues for basin planning and research," Land Use and Water Resources Research, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Centre for Land Use and Water Resources Research, vol. 6, pages 1-17.
    5. M. Dinesh Kumar & Christopher A. Scott & O.P. Singh, 2013. "Can India raise agricultural productivity while reducing groundwater and energy use?," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(4), pages 557-573, December.
    6. Chetan Pandit, 2014. "Environmental over enthusiasm," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(1), pages 110-120, March.
    7. Kemper, K. E., 2007. "Instruments and institutions for groundwater management," IWMI Books, Reports H040046, International Water Management Institute.
    8. Kumar, M. Dinesh, 2005. "Impact of electricity prices and volumetric water allocation on energy and groundwater demand management:: analysis from Western India," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 39-51, January.
    9. Zekri, Slim, 2008. "Using economic incentives and regulations to reduce seawater intrusion in the Batinah coastal area of Oman," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 95(3), pages 243-252, March.
    10. Shah, Tushaar, 2001. "Wells and welfare in the Ganga Basin: Public policy and private initiative in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India," IWMI Research Reports 44570, International Water Management Institute.
    11. Giordano, Mark & Villholth, Karen, 2007. "The agricultural groundwater revolution: opportunities and threats to development," IWMI Books, Reports H040039, International Water Management Institute.
    12. M. Dinesh Kumar & Jos C. van Dam, 2013. "Drivers of change in agricultural water productivity and its improvement at basin scale in developing economies," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(3), pages 312-325, May.
    13. Shah, Tushaar & Scott, Christopher A. & Kishore, Avinash & Sharma, Abhishek, 2004. "Energy-irrigation nexus in South Asia: Improving groundwater conservation and power sector viability," IWMI Research Reports 44557, International Water Management Institute.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bahinipati, Chandra Sekhar & Viswanathan, P.K., 2019. "Incentivizing resource efficient technologies in India: Evidence from diffusion of micro-irrigation in the dark zone regions of Gujarat," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 253-260.

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