India has to resolve its water woes now if it is to keep growing rapidly

IS there anything that India can learn from China? Sceptics may say no. The governance systems of the two countries are worlds apart. However, we argue that China can offer potentially useful lessons on water governance. This, at least, is the conclusion of researchers at the Institute of Water Policy at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. Their study surveyed 182 water experts from 19 provinces/states in both countries, including engineers, water legal experts, academics, economists and bureaucrats. They then compared 17 indicators of water governance in terms of water laws, policies and administration.

As the two largest developing and water-stressed countries, China and India are similar in that both are facing a water crisis due to rapid urbanisation and industrialisation and the attendant problems of pollution, as well as inefficient water use.

The Yellow River in China has been badly polluted by more than 4,000 petrochemical firms to the extent that it is no longer fit even for agricultural use. Likewise, the Ganges River is one of the most polluted in the world. Only half of China's urban water sources are safe to drink, while more than half of the groundwater in the northern provinces cannot be used for industrial purposes. India's story is not much different. Tourists are advised not to drink tap water in India. However, the similarities stop here.