ABSTRACT
The chapter provides a critical overview of the water sector in India. The first part of the chapter shows that the water sector in India is inefficient, inequitable and unsustainable. The chapter argues that the problems with water resource planning, management and governance cannot be addressed through piecemeal changes or tinkering with the existing policies and institutions. It calls for radical, systemic reforms that recognize and tackle their root causes. A comprehensive programme for improvement of data on all aspects, pro-active effort to encourage and support research and engagement with civil society organizations involved in micro-level data collection is the first step towards this restructuring. Other important suggestions include: 1) a shift from supply augmentation to efficiency measures, 2) handing over water management to participatory institutions at different levels, and 3) a rational pricing system overseen by an independent regulatory authority.
