India : water resources management sector review : rural water supply and sanitation report

Although India has succeeded in providing safe drinking water to about 85% of the rural population, there is concern about both the quality and quantity of water reaching those who do have access, as well as the difficulties of those still without any access at all. Too many investments fail to take adequate account of the needs of water users, while maintenance is threatened by a shortage of finance and the concentration of responsibility in the hands of remote bureaucracies. This study, one volume of the World Bank's five volume study of water resources management in India, focuses on the need to devolve decision-making powers down to the local level where end-users will have both the incentive and the opportunity to develop more efficient and lower cost options for service delivery and to demand better service as consumers. Since the government- dominated and target-driven service has become unsustainable institutionally, financially and environmentally, the adoption of the demand driven approach replacing the present supply focused approach is seen as a prerequisite for evolving suitable cost sharing practices with the active participation of the stakeholders. This report dwells on the policy and constraints of the rural water supply and sanitation sector, as well as institutional and financial issues related to the sector reform process, and advocates an approach to implementing radical reforms in the sector. A detailed matrix of recommendations is included.