Water Resource Management: Analysing Legal Instruments in India

ABSTRACT

Water is a vital resource but managing it and distributing it fairly remain a major problem all over the world. Environmental degradation and public health issues have been exacerbated by the increasing lack of clean water, industrial pollution, unsustainable extraction, and ineffective government. Water resources in India are governed by a complex legal system that includes court decisions, legislative actions, and constitutional clauses. However, structural weaknesses such as inconsistent water laws, inadequate regulatory oversight, and unclear allocation procedures hinder efficient water management. This article examines the institutional and legislative framework of water governance in India, focusing on the key challenges and policy implementation failures. It also investigates the human rights dimension of water security, as it points to the role of the judiciary in enforcing Article 21 of the Constitution, guaranteeing access to clean water as a basic right. The article, through its emphasis, points out three critical requirements a comprehensive legislative framework, more solid enforcement tools and community involvement-by which to be able to safely ensure sustainable management of water so that future, as well as current generations could be protected to use water effectively.