Groundwater Exploitation in India for Quenching Thirst and Supporting Water for Food: Uncontrolled Anthropogenic Water Demands and Reliance Leading to Eco-crime

The contribution of groundwater to India's food and water security and its social, economic, and political development is enormous. However, the access and allocations based on property rights has always resulted in inequitable benefits and burden sharing among water users. The land rights influenced regulatory patterns have also promoted exploration of this resource, leading to excessive reliance and its consequent exploitation, endangering the quality and quantity of water resources. This chapter attempts to examine whether the exploitation of groundwater resources for meeting human needs constitutes instances of eco-crime, where anthropogenic activities have led to irreparable damage to aquifers, groundwater, and the ecosystem.