Values motivating water governance in Delhi

Abstract Values of individuals and organizations involved in decision‐making processes form the basis for prioritizing outcomes in water governance. The novelty of this study lies in applying values to a specific decision‐making context. It aims to assess the prioritized water governance outcomes and the underlying value systems shaping the actions of the primary water utility responsible for water governance in Delhi, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). The paper will critically examine the policies and acts of the DJB that drive water governance in Delhi at present, utilizing a values‐based framework in conjunction with secondary literature and expert interviews, to draw a picture of the values reflected. The study does not substantiate the notion of economic values dominating the water‐related decisions; rather, recent policy guidelines indicate prioritization of equitable and fair distribution of water. Findings of this paper show that making the values explicit is largely disregarded in formulating water acts and policies, and values are never elucidated in the public domain, doing which can encourage water policies and practices that are socially, economically, and ecologically viable in the long run. It is expected that this paper will generate a discussion on water values being an integral part of water governance discourses.