Common Property Water Resources (CPWRs) form an important component of the ecological systems in rural India. A significant section of the rural poor, particularly the landless labourers and marginal farmers, continue to depend on these common resources for their traditional livelihood activities and domestic uses, largely due to their inability to invest in own sources. However, over time there has been a reduction in the size, number and performance of CPWRs due to reasons like centralization of management, which led to the alienation of communities from their resources. Efforts made by the government till recently to replenish water resources have been inadequate. It is in this context that this study looked into the extent of availability of CPWRs in the country, dependence on them, their usage, decline (cause and effects), their links with quality of rural life, and methods to restoring CPWRs for betterment of the rural poor.

The study was conducted simultaneously  in three states of India, namely Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Orissa. SHODH was assigned the primary data collection work for the state of Maharashtra. One district was chosen out of each of the nine Ago-climatic zones of Maharashtra and two villages out of each district, from two different Talukas, were selected for detailed study. The CPWRs of these villages, dependence on them (both for irrigation and for domestic purposes), their management, people's institutions, their working etc. was studied in 18 villages.

The study found out that participation of women and backward classes in management of CPRWs is low. It also found that water markets are not very well developed. Rights of landless are restricted to use of CPWRs for livestock and domestic  needs. The study also found that in water scarcity areas people have limited awareness about need for growing rain-fed traditional crops instead of water intensive crops like sugarcane.  

Project funding: Indo-Dutch Programme for Alternative Development (IDPAD) through Centre for Multi-Disciplinary Development Research (CMDR), Dharwar, Karnataka.

Project Output: Report, © IDPAD, CMDR

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