The Uneven Waterscape of Leh

Abstract

This chapter discusses the different dimensions of the results and answers the overarching question how Leh’s transforming waterscape is constituted, through which dominant governance strategies, and with which effects for the urban society by bringing together the theoretical concepts with the case study. This chapter is split into two parts: discussion and conclusion. The discussion contains five sub-chapters, of which the first situates the role that water plays for the urbanisation process. The waterscapes approach highlights how materialities, specific for the research area, and discourses co-constitute water and its use. In the second part, hydromentalities serve as a tool to understand current dominant water governance approaches. In the third, sub-chapter water citizenships explain how inequalities in the waterscape derive and impact the individual relation to the community and government. The fourth part discusses the case study in relation to other similar constellations in the HKH region. Commonalities and differences are considered in order to better understand dynamics of urbanisation, water and governance outcomes in these regions. Finally, the employed methods are critically reflected. The conclusion firstly synthesises the results. Secondly, it discusses the limitations of the study followed by an outlook on future perspectives and challenges for research on urban hydro-social relations in high mountain regions.