Water Resource Planning-Changing Perpectives

Changing Perspectives Ramaswamy R Iyer Water resources planning in India has largely meant irrigation development through big-dam projects. Over the years a powerful movement has emerged against such projects, The paper spells out the issues involved and the opposing views. There is a sharp polarisation of attitudes on this matter. The World Commission on Dams established by the World Bank and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in order to resolve this impasse is expected to submit its report in the year 2000, A crucial question in this context would be whether there are effective alternatives to large dams for meeting the future needs of water and energy. There have been some very successful local initiatives in watershed development and social transformation, which seem to indicate that significant results can be achieved through these means. What is needed is a major reorientation in the approach to water resource policy. The paper sets forth some recommendations in this regard.