Book: "Towards Water Wisdom - Limits,
Justice, Harmony";
Author: Ramaswamy R. Iyer; Publisher: Sage Publications, India; Price:
Rs.350.
In the 21st century world, water is the most contentious of elements,
its ownership more disputed than land and space. The laws regarding
water are less clear than those on land and space. For land, territories
can be established and rights claimed. For space, technology determines
ownership.
One can live without land and space, but without water there can be no
life, neither the individual's nor the planet's. Wisdom about water does
not yet exist, to say the least. Ramaswamy Iyer's second book on water "Towards
Water Wisdom", therefore, is a directional tome, outlining clearly
the issues for a beginner on the issue.
As Iyer, honorary
research professor at the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi,
points out, the words "limits, justice and harmony have multiple
meanings" in the context of water.
What is water? "A declaration of its meaning has become necessary
because of the demand. The state too needs to place on
constitutional record such a declaration on water, as there is a
crisis of understanding", Iyer told IANS.
The book comes on the eve of the World Water Week being marked in
Stockholm Aug 12-18, which is an international annual forum for
exchange of views and experiences between members of the scientific,
business, policy and civil society communities in order to advance
efforts related to water, the environment, livelihoods and poverty
reduction.
Iyer begins with the urban and rural water scenario in India,
irrigation usage, the water treaties, the disputes and, in very
short definitions, gives the reader a clear picture of what the
hullabaloo is about.
He also explains the 'pari passu' principle, a condition in which
construction (of dams, power plants, etc.) is not allowed to outpace
environmental and rehabilitation work.
"The idea was that the pace of environmental and rehabilitation work
should determine the pace of construction work," says Iyer, who was
secretary in the water resources ministry in the 1980s.
In 2007, just the opposite has become the guiding principle in
India's official practice regarding water - in terms of dams, power
projects, ports and oil fields, he points out.
In his latest book, the author is also critical about arguments
tendered about the "cost of delay". This is the justification that
those who don't want to stop building projects usually give, he says
.
Asks Iyer, "Have those arguing against delay asked themselves what
each day's delay in rehabilitation means in money and pain for the
project affected persons?"
Talking about legal delays, he also asks more uncomfortable
questions like, "Did the NBA (Narmada Bachao Andolan, the NGO
fighting for rehabilitation of people displaced by the Sardar
Sarovar mega-project) ask the Supreme Court to take six years to
deliver its judgment?"
Why did Medha Patkar take the issue to court is answered by two
other questions that Iyer asks, "What powers have the people of
India been able to exercise?" and "are peaceful protests
ineffective?"
Dams versus rehabilitation is India's most important conflict across
every state, be it on the Narmada or the Mullaiperiyar.
Along with the disputes between states are India's water disputes
with neighbours like Pakistan and Nepal - listed by Iyer as major
conflicts.
"Market environmentalism" is an oxymoron, he says, adding, "people's
right to water is fundamental. It cannot be snatched either by the
private sector that advocates 'priced water' nor by the government
in the name of development".
"Sustainable development is about more than equity and fairness in
the contemporary context. Outcomes will depend on inter-generational
issues. The ability to anticipate and prepare for future situations
is a challenge," says the World Water Forum on the water debate.
Iyer's book is a one-stop-shop on water in the Indian context.
August 13,
2007
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