It's time to overhaul water pricing norms

By 2050, the demand for water is expected to exceed supply. Water resources vary spatially and temporally — monsoon rainfall, for instance, is highest in the North-East and lowest in Rajasthan. Per capita water availability has been declining over the years, and it has now touched the scarcity benchmark of 1,000 cubic meter annually. Water pricing is a complex subject and its imposition has huge political overtones. The determination of water-use charges has to be rational, consultative and transparent. And, the role of the statutory water regulator should be recognised.