Groundwater management and ownership - Report of the expert group - Planning Commission (2007)

This report by the Planning Commission, Government of India primarily looks at the problem of rural depletion of groundwater and  into the feasibility and necessity of changing groundwater law. The report is  divided into the following chapters:

Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Emerging Scarcity of Ground Water Resources

• Source of Ground Water-Hydrological Cycle
• Availability and Use of Groundwater
• “Static” Ground Water
• Over-exploitation: Extent, Causes and Consequences
• Extent of Over-exploitation
• Causes of Over-Exploitation
• Consequences of Over-Exploitation

Chapter 3. Ground Water Recharge and Efficacy of Implemented Schemes

• Groundwater recharge: Rationale, Methods and Potential
• Government Schemes for Recharge: Motivation and Results

Chapter 4. Legal Position Regarding Ground Water

• Individual’s Right to Use Ground Water
• Constitutional Provisions
• Centre’s Obligations: Constitution of the
• Central Groundwater Authority (CGWA)
• National Environment Policy
• National Water Policy
• Conclusions
• Changes and enactment required

Chapter 5. Statesí Approach to and Experience with Groundwater Regulation

• Kerala
• Tamil Nadu
• Punjab
• Andhra Pradesh
• Gujarat
• Maharashtra
• Experience with Water Market In India
• Overall Assessment of States’ Approach and Experience
• Report of the Expert Group

Chapter 6. International Experiences in Ground Water Management

• Ground Water Governance In Western United States
• Ground Water Demand Management in Arid Countries
• Ground Water Management in Spain
• Water Sector Reforms in Mexico
• Lessons From International Experience

Chapter 7. Way Forward

• Policy and Legal Environment
• Technical Measures
• Pricing and Supply of Electricity
• Incentives For Improvement In Management Efficiency
• Cooperative Management
• Institutional Changes

Chapter 8. Summary and Conclusion

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