EMERGING CHALLENGES OF URBAN WATER GOVERNANCE CASE OF THIRUVANANTHAPURAM CITY, INDIA

Abstract

Urban water management is a challenging issue, globally. With increasing concentration of population in the urban areas the authorities are finding it difficult to make adequate provision for drinking water supply, sewage system, drainage service and storm water management. There is a need for revisiting the viability of the existing urban water management system and water governance. Integrated Urban Water Management approach stressing on integration and addressing ecological and social dimensions of water management is expected to provide the alternative paradigm. Examination of water management issue in Trivandrum city indicates that overcoming the spatial differentiation in service delivery, providing quality service and taking measures for source sustainability are emerging challenges. In spite of strong commitment to decentralization the water management is fragmented and centralized. The city authority has very little role to play. It is suggested that participatory polycentric governance may be developed considering the city and the hinterlands within the context of Karamana river basin and socio-technical-political space may be created to debate and evolve alternative urban water management practices suitable for the city.