Highlights
- Water management in India needs to improve to attract foreign investment
- Water management in India is handled by multiple agencies as opposed to one
- India has big potential for developing water sector
Singapore: India needs to improve its water management regimes across the country to attract foreign investments and technologies, an industry expert has said. Currently, water management in India is multi-layered from Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of the Central Government to state governments and municipalities. Water management should come under one body, such as municipality,” observed Satyajit Singh, Professor in Political Science at the University of Delhi. Mr Singh also sees investment options in water sector development through public-private partnership. India has a big potential for developing water in various sectors, including sewerage treatment plants to irrigation for the agricultural sector and the increase of water use in industries, Mr Singh said at the 3rd International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP) being held here from June 28-30.
Also Read: Netherlands Extends Support To Improve The Condition Of Water Bodies In India
In fact, the Ministry of Water resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India, on its official website, highlights that the country is “endowed with a rich and vast diversity of natural resources, water being one of them.”
According to Mr Singh, Singapore, with its world class water management industry, would be able to help India in developing water industry for a balanced use among industries, the agricultural sector, and consumers. The current water usage in India is not equal with some agricultural crops consuming higher rate of water, he added. This needs to be corrected, said Mr Singh, whose works include in rural and environment development.
Also Read: A Distressing Situation: How Sanitation and Water Problems Are Degrading India’s Environment
Over 1,200 scholars and leaders of international organisations from around the world are here to analyse critical issues in public policy at the conference. The three-day conference is jointly organised by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) and the International Public Policy Association (IPPA).
