Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia’s assertion on 17 April at the fourth Clean Energy Ministerial meeting in New Delhi that the Government of India was all for creating a viable and competitive domestic production base and incentivise use of clean energy in the country is a welcome move. Referring to efforts being undertaken to encourage domestic production and usage, he further added: “We are interested in incentivising the use of clean energy. We are also interested in creating a viable and competitive domestic production base.”
Lamenting that with energy produced being as dirty as it was 20 years ago, the progress on clean energy was not fast enough, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu has called for higher efficiency devices: “Despite our efforts, progress on clean energy is not fast enough.” Favouring collaboration between the developed and developing nations for leveraging strengths and resources, he said the Delhi meet should lay the groundwork for faster progress. He further added: “In power-starved economies like India, higher efficiency devices help investments in new generations to go further — expanding access to reliable power rather than using limited supply to run inefficient product.”
It is rightly pointed out that the big push for use of clean energy would come from wind, solar and biomass and the Union government would have to take the difficult decision by incorporating them into the integrated energy policy.
One is inclined to agree with Montek Singh’s observation that the focus on a clean energy policy should not be on resolving issues on a short-term basis but to make the globe a better place to live say from 20 years from now. “Many countries were putting forward their experiences and we are studying them and after that we will put forward our experience also.”
He cites the case of China which has invested 10 times more than India in clean energy, thereby emphasizing that “We have to increase the percentage of clean energy and need to integrate all forms of clean energy.” Comparison with China or any other country worth emulating should be followed by corresponding policy-framing and implementation measures.
Reforms in energy sector alone are not sufficient unless other related sectors of water and food are not addressed in equal proportion. In essence, a water-energy-food nexus approach is called for.
Water and energy use are intimately linked in myriad ways. The way people use water takes energy; the way modern society produces energy consumes water. Water and energy have much in common. Each is an essential input for productive, comfortable and healthy human societies. Both are also derived from natural resources, and their use by humans creates a series of impacts on the sustainability of ecosystems. The close nexus between water and energy is based on two main factors: (a) Water use requires energy; (b) Energy prediction requires water.
Water and energy are two most significant components of sustainable development. However, India is faced with deficit in both these sectors. The demand for water in India’s domestic, agricultural, and industrial sectors is currently to the tune of approximately 900 billion cubic meters of water every year and by 2050 demand is expected to double and consequently exceed the 1.8 trillion cubic meters of supply.
Keeping in view the finite water resources, which are already under stress, demand for water in India has already exceeded the available supply capability thereby giving rise to water crisis. Given the fact that India’s climate is not particularly dry, nor is it lacking in rivers and groundwater, the water crisis in India is predominantly a manmade problem. Exceedingly poor management, unclear laws, malpractices, and industrial and human waste have caused this water supply crunch and rendered what water is available practically useless due to the huge quantity of pollution. There is a need for balancing competing demands between urban and rural, rich and poor, the economy and the environment.
India has been the fourth or fifth largest energy consumer in the world. Despite a slowing global economy, India’s energy demand continues to rise. While India’s domestic energy resource base is substantial, the country relies on imports for a considerable amount of its energy use. Hydrocarbons account for the majority of India’s energy use. Together, coal and oil represent about two-thirds of total energy use.
Combustible renewable and waste constitute about one forth of Indian energy use. This share includes traditional biomass sources such as firewood and dengue, which are used by more than 800 million Indian households for cooking. Other renewable such as wind, geothermal, solar, and hydroelectricity represent a 2 percent share of the Indian fuel mix. Nuclear holds a one percent share. India is the world’s fifth largest net importer of oil and bulk of India’s foreign exchange is spent on oil imports.
Thus India faces deficit in both water and energy sectors. This paper explores the feasibility of water-energy nexus approach as a potent instrument of attaining sustainable development. After locating the dominant understandings of water-energy nexus, this paper suggests that both water and energy are essential for sustainable development. The energy agenda is confronting renewed trends of price volatility and resource scarcity. Water sector is facing problems of fast depletion of traditional sources of ground water, contamination of surface water resources and melting of mountain glaciers.
A number of ‘synergistic’ policy approaches that have been undertaken recently in India, however, turn out to be relatively pragmatic and short-term strategies aimed at enhancing specific aspects of water or energy security. The fundamental issues at the heart of the energy-water nexus are largely neglected. Greater compatibility can be achieved by devising energy-and-water programmes informed by long-term strategic planning under conditions of uncertainty. Strong cross-sector coalitions would be required to mobilise sufficient financial resources for a far-reaching structural transformation.
The principal components in any water or energy sector reform strategy are: Conservation, Regeneration, Capacity-Building and Governance of the resources. These elements are not mutually exclusive but complement one other. Conversely, in a segregated approach, resource sustainability, which is surely the most critical aspect of the reform process, is often defeated. The integrated model is even more appropriate in the Indian context as water and energy scarcity issues are becoming increasingly complex with the alarming growth in population.
Together with establishing a role for the state energy regulatory agencies to also regulate ground water use, it is implicit that we promote voluntary public policies at the user level to salvage policy restraints at the Government level. These can be established through effective governance structures created in shape of community institutions addressing both energy and water issues. This intervention would be particularly relevant to the rural users. The institutional structure is expected to be the strongest amongst them considering the high degree of social cohesion observed in them.
Given the large user population it is almost impossible to reach out to them. It is worthwhile that the users represent themselves through user energy / water institutions. These energy/water institutions should be adequately empowered through extensive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities. They should be gradually groomed to plan and manage various targeted activities. Finally the learning will transform them into independent management units capable to own up the entire reform process which would eventually ensure sustainability in the use of energy and water resources.
