Open AccessEvolution of Strategic Planning for Water Sustainability in Coastal Cities of India –Contemporary Issues and Way Forward
Author(s) -
Shiva Nandhini Sivakkumar,
M. Vasudevan,
N. Natarajan,
Suneeth Kumar Saragur
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
iop conference series. materials science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1757-899X
pISSN - 1757-8981
DOI - 10.1088/1757-899x/955/1/012103
Subject(s) - sustainability , livelihood , environmental planning , urbanization , industrialisation , business , water resources , population , water supply , natural resource economics , rainwater harvesting , water conservation , distribution (mathematics) , environmental resource management , water resource management , geography , environmental engineering , environmental science , economic growth , economics , ecology , market economy , mathematical analysis , demography , mathematics , archaeology , sociology , biology , agriculture
Fresh water availability along coastal India is a critical issue pertaining to and affected by population explosion, rapid urbanisation and industrialisation. The coastal livelihood and infrastructure in India have subsequently grown post-independence without any substantial scientific planning for infrastructural developments such as public water distribution systems and wastewater drainage. Due to the predominant inconsistency in meeting the regular water consumption demands as against water availability, uncontrolled water distribution systems became critically responsible for harnessing our freshwater resources (surface water and groundwater). There is an ever-demanding need for strategic planning for Indian coastal cities with inclusive technological interventions to effectively utilise the available resources for achieving water sustainability. This paper reviews on the contemporary challenges and possible strategies for planning and implementing innovations in community water supply sector for coastal cities in India. Considering the pros and cons while strategic planning in the diverse geo-marine environment, we realise that ultimately the choice of water conservation mechanism must be unique for a given region, but consistent with the sustainable goals considering the overall well-being of the ultimate beneficiaries.