With the summer heat being exceptionally severe this year, the district has been facing severe water shortage. The District Collector has been mobilizing his subordinate officials to conserve the remaining water reserves for preventing the district from plunging into acute drinking water crisis. Along with an awareness campaign for conserving water, strict measures have been taken for stopping the over-exploitation of ground-water. Vigilance teams have been deployed to tour the villages and find the farmers who are drawing water from deep borewells or from the river reservoir for irrigation. The farmers are agitated by such action. A delegation of farmers meets the District Collector with their issues and complains that while they are not being allowed to irrigate their crops, big industries located near the river are drawing huge amounts of water through deep borewells for their industrial processes. The farmers allege that their administration is anti-farmer and corrupt, being bribed by the industry. The district needs to placate the farmers as they are threatening to go on a prolonged protest. At the same time, the District Collector has to deal with the water crisis. The industry cannot be closed as this would result in a large number of workers being unemployed.

(a) Discuss all options available to the District Collector as a District Magistrate.
(b) What suitable actions can be taken in view of mutually compatible interests of the stakeholders?
(c) What are the potential administrative and ethical dilemmas for the District Collector?
(Answer in 250 words) [UPSC 2024]

Roadmap for Answer Writing

Introduction

• Context: Describe the severe water shortage due to extreme summer heat and the District Collector’s efforts to manage the crisis.
• Stakeholder Dynamics: Mention the conflict between farmers, industries, and the administration regarding water usage.
• Objective: Outline the focus areas: options for the District Collector, actions for mutually compatible interests, and potential dilemmas.

Section A: Options Available to the District Collector

1. Implement Stricter Regulations for Industries
   • Description: Introduce penalties for industries over-extracting water.
   • Fact: Regulatory frameworks can enhance compliance and fairness (World Bank).
2. Conduct an Inquiry into Corruption Allegations
   • Description: Investigate claims of bribery and corruption to ensure transparency.
   • Fact: Transparency fosters public confidence and accountability (Transparency International).
3. Allow Limited Water Access for Farmers
   • Description: Permit farmers to draw water for irrigation while regulating industrial use.
   • Fact: Distributive justice principles support equitable resource allocation (Rawls, 1971).
4. Emergency Water Supply Measures
   • Description: Provide temporary water supplies via tankers to affected farmers.
   • Fact: Immediate relief can mitigate tensions and support livelihoods (UN OCHA).
5. Facilitate Stakeholder Dialogues
   • Description: Organize meetings between farmers, industries, and officials to discuss concerns.
   • Fact: Deliberative democracy enhances trust and legitimacy in governance (Habermas).

Section B: Suitable Actions for Mutually Compatible Interests

1. Develop an Equitable Water Allocation Framework
   • Description: Create a transparent system prioritizing essential needs, such as drinking water and irrigation.
   • Fact: Fair allocation frameworks can prevent conflicts (OECD).
2. Upgrade Water Infrastructure
   • Description: Improve infrastructure to reduce losses and ensure balanced distribution.
   • Fact: Efficient infrastructure is key to sustainable water management (Global Water Partnership).
3. Incentivize Water Conservation Practices
   • Description: Offer subsidies or incentives for adopting water-efficient technologies.
   • Example: KUSUM scheme promotes solar-powered pumps for farmers.
4. Implement Monitoring and Evaluation Systems
   • Description: Use real-time monitoring to track water usage and adjust policies effectively.
   • Fact: IoT solutions can provide data-driven insights for resource management.
5. Establish Conflict Resolution Mechanisms
   • Description: Create local committees to address disputes over water usage proactively.
   • Fact: Conflict management frameworks can help preemptively address issues (Fisher et al.).

Section C: Potential Administrative and Ethical Dilemmas

1. Resource Allocation Dilemma
   • Description: Balancing the immediate needs of farmers against industrial demands poses ethical challenges.
   • Fact: The ethics of care prioritizes access to basic needs (Nussbaum).
2. Corruption Allegations
   • Description: Maintaining transparency is critical to uphold public trust and prevent perceptions of favoritism.
   • Example: Open governance practices mitigate corruption risks (World Bank).
3. Legal vs. Ethical Obligations
   • Description: Legal frameworks may not always ensure ethical fairness, especially in resource-scarce contexts.
   • Example: Restricting water for irrigation may disproportionately affect small farmers.
4. Public vs. Private Interests
   • Description: Balancing industrial interests with the public’s right to water creates ethical conflicts.
   • Fact: Utilitarianism and Kantian ethics can clash in resource management decisions.
5. Equity vs. Efficiency
   • Description: Ensuring efficient water use may compromise equitable access for marginalized communities.
   • Example: Prioritizing industrial needs could lead to insufficient irrigation for farmers.

Conclusion

• Summary: Reiterate the need for a balanced approach to address water shortages while ensuring fairness among stakeholders.
• Final Thought: Emphasize the importance of cooperative governance and ethical decision-making in resolving conflicts and fostering sustainable resource management.