India, Feb. 28 -- As a key component of the Green Revolution, groundwater irrigation played a crucial role in averting the food crises of the 1960s. Groundwater in Punjab, once a common resource, now exemplifies the "tragedy of the commons". According to government data, 95% of the groundwater extracted in the state is used for irrigation. The untargeted free power policy for the farm sector has led to unchecked groundwater extraction, causing significant depletion. An understanding of the groundwater challenges necessitates an examination of the legal, institutional and governance dimensions, pivotal to its management.

Water management in India is divided between the State and Union lists: Water supplies, irrigation, and related areas a...