Editorial 2: Water management in India needs a new course 

Context

The scientific community and policymakers should concentrate on the Source to Sea (S2S) approach.

Introduction

The theme of World Water Day 2025, celebrated every year on March 22, was ‘Glacier Preservation’. The year 2025has also been named the International Year of Glacier Preservation by the United Nations. Additionally, March 21 is the first time being observed as the World Day for Glaciers. This year also marks the start of the ‘Decade of Action on Cryospheric Science’ (2025-2034).

Global Focus on Water, Glaciers, and Ocean Science in 2025

• Several global events have focused on the theme ‘Water and Glaciers – From Science to Policy’, emphasizing the need for regional and local actions.
• The United Nations World Water Development Report 2025 themed ‘Mountain and Glaciers – Water Towers’highlighted the critical role of mountain waters and alpine glaciers in the sustainable development of mountain regions and downstream communities.
• This focus is especially important due to the rapid changes in the mountain cryosphere (the frozen parts of the Earth), which will greatly affect downstream water resources.
• The year 2025 also marks the midpoint of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), with the vision of ‘Science we need for the ocean we want’.
• Key concerns in this ocean decade include rising coastal and marine pollution, coastal hazards, increasing sea surface temperatures, sea level rise, and loss of marine biodiversity.

Water Connects Upstream and Downstream Systems

• Water links different geographical areas through an upstream-downstream connection.
• Human actions upstream directly affect the environment downstream.
• The natural hydrological cycle works on its own, but human activities change it at local levels.
• Examples of human impacts:
  • Building dams
  • Diverting water for farming and other uses
  • Extracting water from lakes, rivers, and underground sources
  • Polluting water bodies
• These activities change how fresh water flows into coastal areas and the ocean, harming marine life.

The Problem with Current Water Management

• Current water management often ignores the upstream-downstream connection.
• This neglect is becoming a major global issue.
• Recognizing this, the Source to Sea (S2S) approach was introduced in January 2012 through the Manila Declaration.

The Manila Declaration and Its Goals

• Adopted by 65 countries.
• Focuses on protecting the marine environment from pollution caused by land-based activities.
• Encourages:
  • Better cooperation and coordination at all levels.
  • Integrated management from land to ocean (“ridge to reef” approach).
  • Involvement of all stakeholders.
  • Innovative solutions to solve environmental problems.

International Initiatives Supporting S2S

Core Idea Behind Source to Sea (S2S) Approach

• Earth’s water systems (freshwater and marine) are interconnected parts of one system.
• Current water governance treats different parts separately — rivers, lakes, oceans — which is ineffective.
• A holistic, integrated approach is needed for better results.

Recommendations from the 2012 United Nations University Report

• Overcome the traditional separation of water bodies such as:
  • Rivers
  • Aquifers
  • Lakes
  • Large marine ecosystems
  • Open oceans
• Use a socio-ecological system scale that:
  • Includes scientific tools like transboundary diagnostic and causal chain analysis.
  • Helps understand and solve complex water-related problems across borders.
• These recommendations are important for all countries to improve international water management projects.

Challenges in India’s Water Management

• Uneven water availability: Water resources vary greatly across regions.
• Unequal access: Many people face difficulty in obtaining clean and sufficient water.
• Increasing pollution: Rivers and water bodies are heavily polluted.
• Climate change: Alters rainfall patterns, exacerbating water scarcity.
• Conflicts: Disputes over water between states and communities.

Key Facts and Reports on India’s Water Situation

Groundwater: Critical but Under Threat

• Groundwater supports most irrigated farming and drinking water.
• Over-extraction in some states exceeds sustainable limits.
• Quality of groundwater is declining, threatening water security.

Reasons Behind India’s Water Management Problems

• Fragmented approach: Water issues are managed sector-wise, not holistically.
• Inter-State and multiple jurisdictions: Rivers and water bodies often cross state boundaries.
• Multiple governance systems: Coordination across different levels is weak.

Governance Systems Involved in Water Management

The Coordination Challenge

• Activities related to water management are spread across multiple tiers.
• Effective management requires nested governance—where local, state, national, and global policies align.
• A comprehensive water policy for India is essential to unify these efforts.

An approach on the fringes

• The first National Water Policy was introduced in 1987.
• Since then, several attempts have been made to modify and add new features to the policy.
• In 2015, a committee was formed to restructure the Central Water Commission and Central Ground Water Board into a National Water Commission.
• In 2019, the Ministry of Jal Shakti established a committee of independent experts to draft a new National Water Policy.
• This committee suggested various policy recommendations to address water management challenges.
• Several states have also developed their own water policies to address local issues.
• Despite these efforts, the Source to Sea (S2S) approach has not yet attracted significant attention from policy planners.
• Two case study initiatives are being considered under the S2S framework:
  • Nutrient management of Delhi waterbodies as part of the S2S platform.
  • A proposed project under the S2S Future programme to study the relationship between human settlements and the S2S landscape in the Indo-Gangetic basin.

Conclusion

It is important to change our approach and move towards the Source-to-Sea (S2S) method by using a social-ecological system framework. This will help in the coordinated achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6 and 14, which focus on freshwater and marine ecosystems. The main aim should be to connect Target 6.5 (integrated water resource management) with Target 14.1 (reducing pollution from land-based activities). This can be done by involving all stakeholders, bridging the gap between science, policy, and action, and promoting innovative solutions.