It is also observed that the resource data to be used for project planning needs to
be statistically stationary. This stationarity will enable the planner to choose an
adequate time interval using which a reasonably assured supply demand regime can
be achieved. With the changes in utilization patterns across the basins much of
which is not adequately reported, the availability data has a tendency to vary with
time. In such a situation, it is observed that the time interval chosen for using the
resource data should match with the demand patterns being used for the planning.
This leads to conflict between the aspirations with which the project is being
planned and the success rates after its implementation. The general tendency of the
socio-political class is to promise as much as possible benefits without due regard to
the availability aspects. In such an event, the search of an interval which satisfies
demands at present level is started by selectively sampling the data and ignoring the
inconvenient periods. In one of the major projects currently under implementation
(names not given to avoid embarrassment), the resource data that was planned to
use was pertaining to observation period of 12 years or older, whereas the demand
scenario was for the periods of 10–20 years in future. Coupled with lack of balancing storage, the investment costs of pumping and operations were very high
compared with a reasonable sized project which would obviously not have catered
to such large demands, but the level of satisfaction out of investments and benefitted population would have been much higher.
7 Role of Data Collection and Interpretation
in Transboundary Water Negotiations
In transboundary context, the basis of positions of the parties is required to be built
on the data only. The interpretation of the data also poses challenges in adjudication
due to differing stands taken by the parties based on their perceptions of interest.
With the associated problems described above, the situation becomes quite complex. In case of such allocations, India has an Inter-State River Water Disputes Act
(1956) as amended in 2002. The act provides for a judicial tribunal which is
primarily comprised of eminent judges from supreme and high courts of India. The
proceedings are also carried out following the judicial procedures with law professionals acting as primary interface between the tribunal and parties of dispute.
The situation provides for judicial purity and soundness but has to negotiate the
challenges of data management and interpretation as the outcome of allocation has
to be based on the historical data and projection of the trends in future. A very
complex situation arises when the main players being from judicial sector have to
contend with the principles of hydrology and water management. A wise provision
in form of assessors has been made in the act where senior water resources professionals are available for providing much needed disambiguation of the arguments and submittals made supporting them. It is important to note that the
hydrological analysis relies on statistics and probability principles which do not
Data Usage for Development, Management of Water Resources
151
be statistically stationary. This stationarity will enable the planner to choose an
adequate time interval using which a reasonably assured supply demand regime can
be achieved. With the changes in utilization patterns across the basins much of
which is not adequately reported, the availability data has a tendency to vary with
time. In such a situation, it is observed that the time interval chosen for using the
resource data should match with the demand patterns being used for the planning.
This leads to conflict between the aspirations with which the project is being
planned and the success rates after its implementation. The general tendency of the
socio-political class is to promise as much as possible benefits without due regard to
the availability aspects. In such an event, the search of an interval which satisfies
demands at present level is started by selectively sampling the data and ignoring the
inconvenient periods. In one of the major projects currently under implementation
(names not given to avoid embarrassment), the resource data that was planned to
use was pertaining to observation period of 12 years or older, whereas the demand
scenario was for the periods of 10–20 years in future. Coupled with lack of balancing storage, the investment costs of pumping and operations were very high
compared with a reasonable sized project which would obviously not have catered
to such large demands, but the level of satisfaction out of investments and benefitted population would have been much higher.
7 Role of Data Collection and Interpretation
in Transboundary Water Negotiations
In transboundary context, the basis of positions of the parties is required to be built
on the data only. The interpretation of the data also poses challenges in adjudication
due to differing stands taken by the parties based on their perceptions of interest.
With the associated problems described above, the situation becomes quite complex. In case of such allocations, India has an Inter-State River Water Disputes Act
(1956) as amended in 2002. The act provides for a judicial tribunal which is
primarily comprised of eminent judges from supreme and high courts of India. The
proceedings are also carried out following the judicial procedures with law professionals acting as primary interface between the tribunal and parties of dispute.
The situation provides for judicial purity and soundness but has to negotiate the
challenges of data management and interpretation as the outcome of allocation has
to be based on the historical data and projection of the trends in future. A very
complex situation arises when the main players being from judicial sector have to
contend with the principles of hydrology and water management. A wise provision
in form of assessors has been made in the act where senior water resources professionals are available for providing much needed disambiguation of the arguments and submittals made supporting them. It is important to note that the
hydrological analysis relies on statistics and probability principles which do not
Data Usage for Development, Management of Water Resources
151