Composite Water Resources Management: A Decentralized Approach for Climate Change Adaptation

Abstract

India is one among the ten most affected countries due to climate risks according to Global Climate Risk Index 2021. Water is the principal channel by which climate change influence ecosystem, community’s well-being and livelihoods. Therefore, investments in water management has been received attention due its intrinsic ecological, economic and social values in the context of climate crisis. Equitable and efficient management of water resources requires science-led composite resources mapping, joint action and collective efforts among users, planners and policy makers in both planning and execution process. Besides, participation, ownership and local governance in water resources management are linked to bottom-up approach and decentralized planning. However, maintaining the balance between supply and demand of water has been a challenging and complex issue. Use of appropriate water management tool which captures both supply and demand by mapping the key water challenges in meeting demand and potential water actions for augmentation helps to address the issue. The Composite Water Resources Management plan (CWRM) is a tool supports in scientific analysis on the gap between supply and demand and identify potential ways for augmenting the supply was piloted in India with the partnership of Ministries of Rural Development and Jal Shakthi with GIZ’s technical guidance at the lowest level. It has been tested in 1289 gram panchayats/villages in two districts of South India. The chapter explains the scientific approach adopted using climate, socio-economic, water and agriculture based non-spatial and natural resources related spatial datasets. The multi-dimensional vulnerabilities, climate, land-use, micro-watershed, profile of soil and catchment area, surface and groundwater resources, irrigation and greywater and demand for human, agriculture and livestock for water budgeting were analyzed and appropriate water actions/climate solutions were identified using both spatial and non-spatial datasets. The implementation process adopted participatory and convergence approach in which Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, a flagship developmental programme is the base converged with schemes of other line departments. The identified and implemented works are mapped with Sustainable Development Goals and India’s Nationally Determined Contributions to understand its role in national policies and targets. The chapter describes the process adopted in planning, implementation and engaging different actors/policy makers and expected impacts.