Lovleen Bhullar
Wastewater serves as a source of reliable water supply for irrigated agriculture, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, and guarantees food to consumers and livelihood for poor farmers. At the same time, there is a growing demand for the prevention or control of reuse of untreated or partially treated wastewater in irrigated agriculture, and the use of treated wastewater instead, following concerns relating to adverse impacts on human health and the environment. This chapter examines the scope and limits of the regulatory framework for the treatment, recycling and reuse of wastewater in irrigated agriculture in urban and peri-urban areas of India for the realisation of the rights to environment, food, health, livelihood and water. It also considers the regulatory framework as a site of conflict among rights and right-holders.