Groundwater in Andhra Pradesh, India: The Case of Privatization of a Common

Abstract

"Andhra Pradesh is a south Indian state where groundwater plays an important role in agriculture. In Andhra Pradesh, around 45% of net irrigated area is from ground water. 15% of the total 1229 micro basins were classified as over-exploited in Andhra Pradesh. APWALT Act, the legislation to regulate groundwater in the state, was enacted in 2002. But, there is increasing evidence that the groundwater is being exploited as a private property in absence of clarity in policy and legislation in Andhra Pradesh. The existing legislations such as Andhra Pradesh Land Water and Trees Act (APWALTA) coupled with free electricity policy of the government accelerated the privatization of groundwater in Andhra Pradesh.

"Present policies and legislations with strong focus on state control and regulation of ground water, missed the elements of community management of common property such as groundwater. Unregulated over-exploitation of groundwater resource continuing at rapid pace highlights the dismal status of growing gap between the policy and practice. Grass-root experiences, such as Social Regulation of groundwater, are promising and offering innovative and alternative solutions.

"The paper discusses the groundwater situation in Andhra Pradesh and suggests to scale-up social regulations and sharing of groundwater experiences for ensuring equity and sustainability in both energy and water management. The paper also recommends strengthening and empowering local self governments (gram panchayats) and additional incentives to groups willing to share water by amending the APWALT Act."