Indian Climate Policy - Global Commons Institute

CLIMATE CHANGE THREATS TO INDIA’S WATER RESOURCES | 23
and yet remains under-prepared vis-à-vis climate change impacts. The failing
monsoon of 2009, followed by the unprecedented rains of early October in the
southern states of India, has established once more that India must be ready to
address such anomalies more frequently than ever. Obviously, physical
resources without the required institutional arrangements and a holistic vision
will remain inadequate to brace the country for the new challenge of climate
change.
Key among the necessary policy changes are: (i) Regional and transboundary
cooperation in water security—India must take the lead in consulting SAARC
nations to foster information-sharing and joint management of transboundary
water resources and perhaps shape a common stance on international climate
change negotiations; (ii) Increased accountability by the different actors; and (iii)
Decentralization of decision making.
It is vital that this process include mechanisms for equitably sharing both the
risks and benefits to be derived from climate change adaptation projects and
focus not only on broad-based, long-term development, but also on those
corresponding activities that have immediate impacts on water security at the
community level. It is essential to develop an analytical framework that can help
identify and prioritize high-return water management project investments; to
identify critical institutional reforms necessary for the more effective
development and management of the country’s water resources; and to create a
platform for the interaction of the relevant stakeholders, ultimately leading to
water sector reforms to blunt climate change risks. Institutions must be able to
create and manage an environment of incentives and disincentives that encourage
initiatives consistent with sound water policy objectives for the benefit of all
stakeholders, including the most socially and environmentally vulnerable
communities.