The central focus of this book is groundwater management in India: the economies
that groundwater generates, the socio-economic impact of its intensive use,
and the physical, institutional and policy options for its management. The book
provides a fresh analysis of the socio-ecology of groundwater, based on a synthesis
of macro and micro level data on the hydrological, social, economic and institutional
parameters. The region of North Gujarat has been specifically studied to document
the uncontrolled use of groundwater and the ill-effects of such exploitation.
With alarming drops in water levels and increasing levels of fluorides and TDS
in groundwater, the region’s water problems have attracted international
attention because of their implications in terms of reducing the viability of
irrigated agriculture as also their impact on community health. The findings
are used to draw policy conclusions regarding the tools for managing groundwater
in other regions with similar resource and use characteristics. The authors
have used several new methodologies, analytical procedures and criteria to analyse
groundwater use in agriculture, the economic value of groundwater, water intensity
of milk production and the efficient use of groundwater.