Maharashtra Can Solve Drought Crisis by Learning from Gujarat Model
Experts suggest Maharashtra can resolve its drought crisis by adopting the Gujarat water governance model, including river basin and wastewater management.
Experts have suggested that Maharashtra could address its recurring drought crisis by adopting the water governance strategies successfully implemented in Gujarat. The recommendation comes as several talukas in Maharashtra face severe water scarcity this year, prompting state leaders to seek central assistance.
The Gujarat Model: A Blueprint for Success?
A new study launched at IIM Bangalore highlights the transformative journey of water governance in Gujarat. The research, authored by Parameswaran Iyer (former Secretary of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation), Daniel W Smith (Assistant Professor at George Mason University), and Nitin Bassi (Fellow at CEEW), traces the progress made since 2001.
The study specifically points to the Narmada-based water grid and the role of institutions like WASMO as key components of Gujarat's success. According to Iyer, the measures taken under the leadership of then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi are highly applicable to Maharashtra, provided they are contextualized to the local situation.
Key Strategies for Water Security
The experts identified several critical pillars that could help Maharashtra manage its water resources more effectively:
- Water Conservation: Essential interventions at the local level to preserve existing resources.
- River Basin Management: Implementing large-scale management strategies similar to the Narmada project.
- Wastewater Management: Treating wastewater as a vital, secondary resource for the state.
- Agricultural Shifts: Addressing the fact that 85% to 90% of water is consumed by the agricultural sector, which requires moving toward less water-intensive crops and improving farmer income to encourage behavioral changes.
Maharashtra Seeks NDRF Assistance
The urgency of the situation in Maharashtra is evident as drought has been declared in more than 265 talukas. In response to the growing crisis, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to discuss the state's plight.
Fadnavis briefed the Home Minister on the relief measures currently being implemented by the state government. He has formally requested maximum assistance under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to support the drought-affected areas.
Challenges in Urban River Management
While discussing water governance, author Nitin Bassi also addressed the complexities of cleaning urban rivers like the Yamuna in Delhi. He noted that as cities expand, the infrastructure required to manage sewage and prevent river pollution must keep pace with urban growth.
"Any river which is passing through an urban area will have challenges around it because our cities are growing," Bassi remarked, noting that building sufficient sewage treatment plants is a long-term and time-consuming process essential for river health.