Water: The Looming Crisis in India examines the key issues in developing national freshwater policies for the mainland countries of the South Asian sub-continent. Ray addresses the religious diversity, ethnic fragmentation, and complicated international, politically sensitive issues that reflect differently on each of the riparian countries' freshwater policies.

The Copenhagen summit failed to adopt a binding climate change protocol, causing concerns everywhere. Complex political interplay makes the situation worse in south Asia, as internal socio-economic-political concerns of countries influence their policy responses to climate change and water sharing issues. The two adjoining countries-India and China-complicate the situation further, as two big powers never coexisted in Asia. The book argues that academics, policymakers, and others must adopt a region-wide policy response, as climate does not have political boundaries.