Urban water conflicts in Indian cities: Man-made scarcity as a critical factor.

Abstract

This paper discusses two important issues: The first one relates to the resource base itself - its availability, use and abuse, and the second pertains to conflicts which have surfaced in the process of service provision in cities in India.

The paper is organised into four sections. The first one aims at refining a definition of urban water conflict while the next two deal with case studies of Chennai (ex-Madras) and Delhi. A study of Chennai looks at the most critical conflict opposing the city to the peri-urban villages, as continuous water transport, in order to supplement the city's drinking water needs, has drained water resources in peri-urban villages. The case of Delhi will focus on conflicts linked to water access and the compensatory strategies associated with it. A final section aims at considering the rather not successful results of existing conflict resolution mechanisms in place. This socio-economic analysis points out the main reasons that explain why conflicts are emerging, and opens the debate on the solutions that could be implemented.

Citation

Janakarajan, S.; Llorente, M.; Zérah, M-H. Urban water conflicts in Indian cities: Man-made scarcity as a critical factor. Presented at International Workshop on Urban Water Conflicts, 27 and 28 October 2005. (2005) 26 pp.

Urban water conflicts in Indian cities: Man-made scarcity as a critical factor.

Published 1 January 2005