Looking back to look forward: Explorations on water scenario in Bundelkhand, Central India

At present, India is suffering from the worst water crisis in its history, and millions of lives and livelihoods are under threat. As per NITI Aayog's Water Index Report (2018), 40% of the population will have no access to drinking water by 2030. A 2016 report by Down To Earth (DTE) stated that 116,000 water harvesting structures were constructed between 2006 and 2015, and 15,000 crore rupees were spent on drought-proofing measures in Bundelkhand, Central India. Still, the region had 15th consecutive crop loss and 13 droughts in the past 15 years. Water historians like Elizabeth Whitcombe, Rohan D'Souza, and others have demonstrated how British imperialism led to the replacement of traditional water harvesting structures and systems, severely altering existing water-society relationships. On the contrary, Ian Stone, David Mosse, and Esha Shah argued that the ‘pre-colonial equilibrium’ versus ‘colonial hydrology’ framework is an exaggeration. Within this context, the research reveals the tangled roots of various causes and variables, and practically informing policy circles to tackle contemporary water issues and challenges and achieve SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.