Description

Degradation and depletion of groundwater resources is emerging as a major concern in many arid and hard rock sections of Gujarat. Depletion tends to disproportionately affect the poor by further limiting their access to the resource. Unfortunately, the same can be said for most management alternatives other than supply creation. At present, little management is done. NABARD, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, limits access to institutional credit in areas designated as overdeveloped. Electricity connections for pumpsets are also limited in these areas. Wealthy individuals with access to private sources of capital and the ability to bribe officials can bypass these limitations. Other management options (state regulation or energy price manipulation) also have major equity implications. Inherent tensions exist between equitable access to groundwater resources and management options to ensure sustainable use. New institutional approaches similar, for example, to those used in joint forest management are required which can incorporate both equity and sustainability goals. 2

This paper reviews emerging groundwater degradation issues in Gujarat and their implications for equitable resource access. Current management practices and proposed alternatives are examined from both resource sustainability and access equity perspectives. Innovative institutional approaches base on user-groups are discussed and their viability is examined through lessons from the management of other common pool resources. It is argued that the dual goals of sustainability and equity may be best served through management institutions based on local user groups

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