India's Water Resources: Contemporary Issues on Irrigation

Water resource management since Independence has been, and continues to be, overly preoccupied with augmentation of supply to the neglect of efficiency of use and long-term sustainability. This collection brings together the author's recent writings on some of the key issues relating to water resources management in India. Besides rejecting the controversial proposal of river interlinking, a strong case is made for a major shift towards integrated watershed development in rain-fed areas; reducing waste and over-exploitation of water; and more efficient use of irrigation water. The urban water scene is dealt with in a case study of Chennai city. This volume would be useful to policymakers, environmentalists, water activists, NGOs, aid agencies, and researchers in the water management sector.