Water is a resource that cannot be replaced especially in the process of keeping the people alive. It is becoming scarce due to over exploitation and inefficient usage. With growing population and industrial developments the demand for water will only increase. The policy makers are trying to meet this demand in an efficient way so that we do not deplete all the water sources in the world making the future suffer for our mistakes. Water pricing has a special role in managing this resource. In this paper, we have discussed the water availability and water provision level in India. We have also checked the sustainability of Indian water tariff system. The sustainability is checked by evaluating the Indian water tariff system in three different aspects: Economical, Social and Environmental. And it is found that India is not doing great in Water tariff system as the revenue generated is not even close to the investment made and cost incurred in the operation and maintenance. It also encourages the over exploitation of groundwater. Suggestions are given in this paper to provide an improved water supply with a better tariff system.
Water tariff, Sustainability, Indian water tariff, Water provision, Water in India
