Sunday, July 13, 2003		Books

Analysing alternative water resources
Santosh Kr. Singh

Water, Perspectives, Issues, Concerns
by Ramaswamy R. Iyer. Sage, New Delhi. Pages 368. Rs 550.

THE author has been writing on water-related themes for more than a decade now, and this book is an outcome of that decade-long research and studies conducted in this area by him, both as an independent researcher and as member of high-profile committees and study teams.

The book, divided into six sections, begins with a discussion on the positioning of water in India’s federal constitutional structure and ambiguities involved in various provisions relating to water. Highlighting the difficulties encountered in operating the statutory mechanisms for inter-state river water disputes, Iyer suggests that since these disputes most often tend to take the colour of ‘politics of identity,’ it is imperative to initiate a process of education in acceptance of the conflict-resolution mechanism. Taking up the Cauvery dispute, he stresses on some civil society initiatives in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to promote goodwill. He reasons that ultimately the problem has to be tackled through economy in water-use, changes in cropping pattern and the integrated and sustainable management of local water resources.

Developing a strong critique on the National Water Policy 2002, Iyer asserts that certain elements like advocacy of water markets and the treatment of water as a tradable commodity in the policy are fraught with danger. Similarly, the idea of river basin planning, which prima facie seems sound, contains in it the seeds of centralisation and gigantism; antithetical to the very ethos of eco-friendly development.

The second section dwells on various perceptions (commodity, commons, basic rights and divinity), perspectives (riparian, federalist, legal, civil society, human rights, economic) and laws on water and water rights. Advocating a multi-faceted perspective, the author feels that each viewpoint embodies important principles and values and hence a hierarchy or centrality to anyone will defeat the purpose.

A chapter on groundwater legislation brings forth various pros and cons of existing legal positions vis-`E0-vis groundwater and some recommendations in this regard.

The third section takes up the most controversial and vexatious topic of large dams. Arguments put forth transcend the conventional pro/anti-dam rhetoric, suggesting a middle path, which is "a combination or integration of a large project with smaller projects and/or with watershed development programme in holistic manner for an entire area."

Iyer does not dismiss the raison de etre of large projects, keeping in view the development required by a country with such a vast population. But his submission is that large projects should always be treated as ‘option of the last resort,’ given the enormity of the cost involved in ecological, social and cultural terms.

A critique of the Supreme Court’s judgement on the Narmada Bachao Andolan’s writ petition on the Sardar Sarovar project also finds place. A discussion on the dysfunctional and discordant nature of relationship that developed between the Government of India and the World Commission on Dams points towards the extent to which the powerful lobby of dam builders can go in order to damage the credibility of people and institutions associated with alternative models of development.

The fourth section discusses scarcities and conflicts relating to water resources in the language of security. The good news is that Iyer dismiss the ‘war for water’ thesis as unfounded and implausible. Instead, he submits that the crisis facing humanity is global and not regional. The essential conflict is between the affluent countries and the rest of the world. He cautions against being caught in the local/regional security debate and losing the focus in identifying the real enemy. The fifth section includes a chapter on conflict resolution as illustrated by various river water treaties that India has with its neighbours and a brief discussion on the question of perceived shortage of water in the Ganges and the fallacy of the idea of ‘augmenting’ the flows of the river.

The final section is based on a comprehensive diagnosis of the present state of affairs, while the problems and failures of the past provide a critical review of some of the recent studies on future water requirements. The bottom-line argument is in favour of localised, environment-friendly and people-oriented water resource building measures like water harvesting. Dismissing the idea of linking rivers as mirage, the author asserts that instead of being hypnotised by such grandiose schemes we need to explore the possibilities of local augmentation.

In short, this book is a wonderfully rich addition to the ‘small is beautiful’ thesis on development and a powerful counterpoint to hegemonic ‘big is the best’ mindset.