1. Summary – Key messages Groundwater cannot be well developed/managed in isolation from surface water development/management Conjunctive development and management Rehabilitation and improved management of canal systems Contamination and over-exploitation are both important problems to address Especially as pollution is destroying the resource base There is diversity in the groundwater situation across India – the nature of the resource and the level of development There is therefore no “one-size-fits-all solution” Over-exploitation is the consequence of policies and perverse incentives across multiple sectors – there is no water sector “silver bullet”

2. Summary – Key reform elements “Hot-spot analysis” to: identify and describe the nature of the key current and emerging groundwater problems across the India identify recharge potential Identify ecological values linked to groundwater develop fit-for-purpose reforms at state and local level prioritize funding assistance Define GW management units based on aquifer mapping, current and potential use and quality Consider a “program for results” approach with appropriate state-level targets to allocate funding Prioritize securing safe drinking water supply Scope options for metering GW use, targeting high priorities areas, and the institutions to support Invest in recharge structures where appropriate

3. Summary – Key reform elements Invest in institutions Bottom-up: community level participatory management (SW-GW) possibly supported by CSR contributions Top-down: reorienting center and state GW agencies from solely technical to planning and implementing agencies Capacity development in technical and policy areas For priority GMUs identify portfolio of incentives and regulations to achieve sustainable levels of use reward staying within sustainable levels penalize excessive use Remove current perverse incentives / subsidies appropriately control additional development

4. Summary – Next Steps World Bank will prepare comprehensive summary of this meeting including all PPT and will share via NHP Website: www.indiawrm.orgwww.indiawrm.org This meeting will inform scoping by MoWR of a potential national GW program National Hydrology Project will provide important contributions to improved GW data, technical capacity and strengthened institutions. This meeting will inform ongoing discussions in MoWR on central institutional reforms to strengthen water planning and policy Regional World Bank study on sustainable GW use being scoped