India

"Unreasoned push for large storage projects", is a note by Himanshu Thakkar written in July 2006, on the central government's unreasoned preference for large multi-purpose storage projects, inspite of evidence and experience contrary to the same.

The report presents the dynamic groundwater resources of India based on Groundwater Estimation Committee (GEC 97) report with base year as 2004. It identifies the areas where groundwater development is at low key and the areas where groundwater development is alarmingly high. The estimation for the individual state was jointly done by the groundwater wing of the State Government and the concerned Regional Office of the Central Groundwater Board.

Water supply is one of the five urban basic services being addressed by the Government of India under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) with support from Asian Development Bank (ADB) embarked on a Benchmarking and Water Utilities Data Book Project for 20 selected water utilities in India.

The ninth compendium of environment statistics 2007, brought out by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), provides data on five core parameters - land/soil, water, bio-diversity, atmosphere and human settlements. These statistics can be used to understand various aspects of the environment, and to explain the impact of economic activities on sustainable development as a whole and the environment in particular.

Model bill to regulate and control the development and management of ground water, 1992 

The Swajaldhara Guidelines are an outcome of the Sector Reforms Project launched on a pilot basis in the year 1999-2000 and presently scaled up for the whole country from the Tenth Plan. Thus, if the village/block level Panchayati Raj Institutions or User Groups come forward and agree to adhere to the reform principles, water supply schemes can be taken up by them in those areas.

The Central Pollution Control Board, and State Pollution Control Boards composition, terms and conditions of service of members are defined in Sections 3-12 of water (prevention and control of pollution) act, 1974.

The act to provide for the establishment of River Boards for the regulation and development of inter-state rivers and river valleys empowers the Central Government, on a request received in this behalf from a State Government or otherwise, by notification in the Official Gazette, to establish a River Board for advising the Governments interested in relation to such matters concerning the regulation or development of an inter-State river or river valley or any specified part thereof. 

If it appears to the Government of any State that a water dispute with the Government of another State has arisen or is likely to arise by reason of the fact that the interests of the State, or of any of the inhabitants thereof, in the waters of an inter-State river or river valley have been, or are likely to be, affected prejudicially it can request the Central Government under Section 3 of the Act to refer the water dispute to a Tribunal for adjudication.

This section on the IELRC site contains selected Indian Supreme Court and High Court cases related to water. The decisions related to water and sanitation taken by the Supreme Court since the early years after independence also includes a few cases dating back to colonial times. Notable cases include -