Dynamic Strategies and Static Issues in Water Governance: A Case of Water Privatization in India

Water, traditionally identified as a Common Property Resource (CPR), has been subjected to consecutive regime changes in its governance like all other CPRs. In ancient societies water was considered as everybody's property and was open to all. The community held water resources as commons in medieval societies and access to it has identified, as a commonly shared public need. Later, in the management of water well defined state property regimes have emerged in independent countries and state was regarded as the custodian of water. In the era of globalization when state retreat from many socio-economic functions it resorted to privatization of water in the name of economy and efficiency. This paper centers on the fundamental issues in water governance with special reference to the present management scenario of privatization.