Nature-based, people-centred solutions for water

The second in a series of weekly articles on the new National Water Policy

Since Independence, water policy in India has focused primarily on construction of large dams and extraction of groundwater. The new National Water Policy (NWP), drafted for the first time by a committee of independent experts, argues that definite limits are becoming evident in further adopting this strategy in different parts of India. The country is running out of sites for building large dams, while the water table and groundwater quality are falling in many areas. Hence, without ruling out the construction of more dams or the sustainable use of groundwater, the new NWP urges a shift in focus towards management