Decentralization of Water Resource Management: Issues and Perspectives Involving Private and Community Initiatives in Darjeeling Town, West Bengal

By : Ashish Chhetri , Lakpa Tamang

Page No: 240-255

Abstract
The paper is an attempt on the study revolving the issue of water crisis and the relevance of decentralised water management system involving private and community initiatives in Darjeeling town. A thorough study of different springs located in various wards of Darjeeling Municipality have been conducted through field study during 2016-17, analyzing and assessing different parameters that govern the water supply system in the region. It is observed that owing to the failure of the centralised water supply system, majority of the residents have opted to private and community based decentralised mode of water supply system undergoing adaptation, negotiation and compromise. In case of private ventures, a study of five wards having maximum number of privately owned springs were selected and the case study of two Samaj (community based organisation) have been taken for our study. It is evident in the study that privatization of water distribution has brought an efficient trend in water supply while the Samaj led initiative has maintained water equity and justice garnering the total population of the community.

Authors :
Ashish Chhetri : Research Scholar, Department of Geography, University of Calcutta, Kolkata-700073, India
Lakpa Tamang : Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, University of Calcutta, Kolkata-700073, India.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/ATNAGI.2019.39.02.6