Lush Fields and Parched Throats-Political Economy of Groundwater in Gujarat

Political Economy of Groundwater in Gujarat Bela Bhatia The recent discussion on groundwater resources has raised questions of social and economic equity in the distribution of water resources as well as about the role played by water markets, state intervention and other regulatory mechanisms. However, a number of deeper questions have not received adequate attention: Who owns groundwater resources? Who benefits from their use? Who causes and who suffers from their overexploitation? How can proper utilisation of these resources to meet real needs be ensured?