New Delhi, March 20 -- A factory using a water-intensive chemical process in Gujarat had a problem. It was the onset of summer. The assured industrial supply of water was not forthcoming. Despite efficient use and recycling, there was an acute water shortage, which threatened to shut down the factory. The manager had to resort to tanker water, buying at the rate of 5000 litres for about 1500 rupees. He was willing to bid even higher. He needed perhaps hundreds of trucks per day. This was good news for farmers in the neighborhood, most of whom had borewells on their farms. Their own wells supplied water for the crops they were growing. But selling water to the factory was more lucrative. This was a win-win situation, with the factory conti...