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Protecting Drinking Water Sources: Case of Ghataprabha Sub-Basin

Research Team: S. Kolavalli and K. V. Raju

Collaborating Institution: ISEC

 

Ensuring universal access to safe drinking water is one of the more difficult development challenges for India as conflicting demands from various sectors commonly exceed water availability in many regions. This study examined whether the existing water institutions ensured adequate availability of drinking water. Although nearly all human habitations have been provided with “safe” sources of drinking water, access is limited and quantities are inadequate since these water sources are also under pressure from other demands. Depletion of groundwater aquifers and water pollution further threaten continued availability of drinking water.

This study looked at how existing institutions worked to protect drinking water from being diverted to other uses, and identified the difficulties in operationalising policies that seeks to protect drinking water. This was done by reviewing the literature and information from a 2001 rapid case study of the Ghataprabha sub-basin in Karnataka.  The study found that the prevailing institutions do not adequately protect drinking water, although official policies accord the highest priority to meeting human and livestock needs. However, the recently introduced drinking water protection legislation in two states, if implemented, could help in achieving this.

Contact: cised@isec.ac.in

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