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Proposing a solution to India’s water crisis: ‘paradigm shift’ or pushing outdated concepts?

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  • M. Dinesh Kumar

Abstract

This article is a critique of the report of the committee chaired by Dr Mihir Shah on restructuring the Central Water Commission and Central Ground Water Board of India. It shows that the recommendations of the committee are not based on any sound understanding of the federal nature of water administration in India, water-sector performance or the problems confronting it. The ‘paradigm shift’ in the suggested approach to water management is based on flawed analysis of the performance of surface irrigation systems and outdated concepts of irrigation efficiency, and reflects the professional bias of its members against large water infrastructure and wishful thinking about what schemes like aquifer mapping can achieve.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Dinesh Kumar, 2018. "Proposing a solution to India’s water crisis: ‘paradigm shift’ or pushing outdated concepts?," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(1), pages 42-50, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:cijwxx:v:34:y:2018:i:1:p:42-50
    DOI: 10.1080/07900627.2016.1253545
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    1. Amarasinghe, Upali A. & Sharma, Bharat R. & Aloysius, Noel & Scott, Christopher & Smakhtin, Vladimir & de Fraiture, Charlotte & Sinha, A. K. & Shukla, A. K., 2004. "Spatial variation in water supply and demand across river basins of India," IWMI Research Reports H036620, International Water Management Institute.
    2. Keller, A. A., 1995. "Effective efficiency: a water use efficiency concept for allocating freshwater resources," IWMI Working Papers H043180, International Water Management Institute.
    3. Vermillion, Douglas Lynn, 1997. "Impacts of irrigation management transfer: A review of the evidence," IWMI Research Reports 52798, International Water Management Institute.
    4. Keller, A. A., 1995. "Effective efficiency: a water use efficiency concept for allocating freshwater resources," IWMI Working Papers H044344, International Water Management Institute.
    5. Amarasinghe, Upali A. & Sharma, Bharat R. & Aloysius, Noel & Scott, Christopher A. & Smakhtin, Vladimir U. & de Fraiture, Charlotte, 2004. "Spatial variation in water supply and demand across river basins of India," IWMI Research Reports 52966, International Water Management Institute.
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