The ministry of water resources has already initiated talks with state governments to regulate and stop overexploitation of water. The ministry is concerned over the mushrooming of water amusement parks all over the country where regulated use of groundwater is not followed strictly.

Minister of State for Water Resources Bijoya Chakravarty told The Financial Express that the Central government was looking at various policy measures to regulate use of water by industrial units, water amusement parks and by other sectors.

Citing an example, she said while certain regions in Gujarat faced drought last year, water was freely available to water amusement parks in some other parts of the state.

"The situation is alarming in some states. While the water level is depleting by an average of 4-5 metres every year, water pollution in rivers is rising," she said.

Mrs Chakravarty said water in 11 districts along river Ganga in West Bengal has high content of fluoride and lead due to water pollution.

She stated that water, currently a State subject, should be brought under the Concurrent List but admitted that it would be a tough task to do so as state governments were not willing to give up complete control over the subject.

She indicated that the government may stipulate tough clearance norms for industrial units and amusement parks on water use. This would be done through the Central Ground Water Authority.

The Centre can also put pressure on state governments on the basis of its financial might as a majority of water and irrigation projects in the states depend on funds given by it.

The minister said India's water management system is very poor with only five per cent of the water being utilised while the rest flows into sea.

The government is studying a proposal to link various rivers with one another for providing water to areas which face acute water shortage.

However, this could take time as it would require co-operation and consent of various states through which the rivers pass.

Since inter-basin transfer of water is likely to take a long time, other cheaper and faster options like acquifer recharge through monsoon run-off and tapping of huge acquifers, which exist at depths of 1,500 metres and below, beneath the Ganga basin are being considered.

"Water shortage is going to be an acute problem after 10-15 years. We need a long-term vision and sincerety in implementation to regulate use of water," Mrs Chakravarty said.

The government has taken up several new water projects but ``some of them have got stuck due to court cases,'' she added. The government is also taking up new projects in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.