Water Law in India: An Introduction to Legal Instruments

Despite the obvious importance of water, there is hardly any comprehensive work on the laws governing the use of water in India. Though a number of legal instruments related to water exist, both at the union and at the state levels, they are extremely complex and multi-layered. This volume provides a broad picture of the current and emerging policy framework for managing water-related issues by bringing together the key policy documents as well as laws on water.

With a special focus on recent developments in the field, the work discusses global and local legislation on water. The book not only examines the various institutions dealing with water, but also takes into account different water bodies and their uses. It also addresses the important issue of environmental and health concerns linked to the use of water. Laying emphasis on available legal instruments within the ambit of water law, the book examines the conflict resolution process for resolving water-related disputes.

Phillippe Cullet is Reader in Law at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and founding Programme Director of the International Environmental Law Research Centre.

Sujith Koonan is Programme Coordinator, Environment Law Research Society, New Delhi.