WATER RIGHTS IN INDIA: Law, Ethics, and Governance
Keywords:
Water, Right to Life, Right to Water, Planning CommissionAbstract
This article seeks to probe the legal structures which are in place to ensure orderly and judicious allocation of water amongst various stake-holders in the country, i.e. households, farmers, industries, etc. In formulating a policy for the same, a good consideration of both ‘Right to Water’ and ‘Right over Water’ is necessary. The paper will also deal with the issue of pollution and indiscriminate usage of water and the laws to regulate the same. The problem of water scarcity cannot be dealt with by incoherent and unstructured efforts; there is a need of integrated and multi-pronged approach towards the mitigation of the problem of water scarcity. After detailing the issues and challenges involved in the problem of water scarcity, the paper investigates the legal frame work at international conventions and the governance of water allocation at the national level. It is, however, noted that mere enactment of legislations or formulation of policies will not prove to be a panacea for the water related ills, proper enforcement and earnest compliance of these laws and policies would go a long way in curing this problem. Integrated Natural Resource Management is suggested as an answer for overall, combined policy towards conservation, protection and resource enrichment.
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