From the introduction:

In the future while water is expected to become even scarcer, the demands for water are expected to increase still further. The main reasons for this are population growth combined with rising income levels and a greater demand for water in both industry and agriculture. Current forecasts estimate that the demand for water in India will double in the next 25 years. This suggests a clear relationship between economic development and water resources in India. At the same time, water supplies in India are limited by climate and geographic factors. This article is based on the thesis that economic development depends on water resources. This relationship is discussed both empirically and as it relates to economic theory. The first section explains the theoretical relationship between water resources and economic development. Section 3 provides a general discussion of the situation concerning water availabilty in India. The discussion in section 4 turns to the relationship between industrial expansion and water consumption in India, in consideration of the fact that economic development in the industrial sector is of major importance for the overall economy of India. Consideration must also be given to the agricultural sector in India as that is where water consumption is the greatest. There is a direct relationship between economic growth and the availability of water in the agricultural sector. The final section presents the possibilities and problems facing the implementation of reforms in the area of water resources.