g. The Experts chose different methods for estimating the average rainfall—
sometimes the Thiessen Polygon Method was used while on other occasions,
Arithmetic Mean Method was used.”
Obviously, the above scenario is not at all desirable, and unless necessary
measures are taken, such scenario is bound to contribute considerably to (a) unrealistic plan leading to either unsustainable development or non-optimal benefits
from the available resources and/or (b) conflicts amongst various stakeholders.
Such selective use of data also has a potential of using specific information on
selective basis as a tool of convenience to prove or disprove a particular line of
pre-conceived thinking, which is very serious. The Mahadayi Water Disputes
Tribunal has expressed their concerns on these aspects as well. Relevant extracts
from their Report (MWDT 2018) are reproduced hereunder.
“1412. Although the sources of most of data collected by the party States were same
i.e., CWC in respect of river flow data at Ganjim and Collem, and IMD in respect of
rainfall data at various stations in and around the basin, each of the three States have
projected different figures relating to availability of water in Mahadayi Basin with
very large variations. The estimated water availability at 75% dependability for the
entire Mahadayi basin, which were reported by the party States and the experts,
varied from 208.73 to 145.05 tmc. One State would contend that Mahadayi Basin
is a surplus basin whereas another State would contend that Mahadayi Basin is a
deficient one. The result was that the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal had to
struggle a lot to arrive at an acceptable yield of Mahadayi Basin at 75% dependability, due to which, most of the time of the Tribunal was occupied only in
determining the yield of Mahadayi Basin at 75% dependability.
1413. The situation is undoubtedly very serious. This is more so in view of the fact
that the Hydrology Studies Organization of CWC is fully devoted to hydrological
analysis and a premier research institute namely, National Institute of Hydrology is
in existence since 1978 with main objective of undertaking, aiding, promoting and
coordinating systematic and scientific work in all aspects of hydrology. As per the
web-site of the National Institute of Hydrology, the Institute is well equipped to
carry out computer, laboratory and field oriented studies. Further, the Tribunal is
also informed that a Hydrology Project with assistance of the World Bank is being
implemented by the Union Ministry of Water Resources since 1995, that the
Phase-I and Phase-II of the said project have since been successfully implemented
and that the Phase-III of the project is currently under implementation with
objectives ‘to improve the extent, quality and accessibility of water resources
information, and to strengthen the capacity of water resources management institutions in India.’
1414. The Tribunal is baffled and also anguished that despite availability of considerable data, existence of expert organization and institutions and implementation
of specific projects related to hydrological data, hydrological analysis and capacity
building, the Tribunal had to struggle for arriving at an acceptable value of water
availability at 75% dependability of the Mahadayi basin.”
Data Usage for Development, Management of Water Resources
155
sometimes the Thiessen Polygon Method was used while on other occasions,
Arithmetic Mean Method was used.”
Obviously, the above scenario is not at all desirable, and unless necessary
measures are taken, such scenario is bound to contribute considerably to (a) unrealistic plan leading to either unsustainable development or non-optimal benefits
from the available resources and/or (b) conflicts amongst various stakeholders.
Such selective use of data also has a potential of using specific information on
selective basis as a tool of convenience to prove or disprove a particular line of
pre-conceived thinking, which is very serious. The Mahadayi Water Disputes
Tribunal has expressed their concerns on these aspects as well. Relevant extracts
from their Report (MWDT 2018) are reproduced hereunder.
“1412. Although the sources of most of data collected by the party States were same
i.e., CWC in respect of river flow data at Ganjim and Collem, and IMD in respect of
rainfall data at various stations in and around the basin, each of the three States have
projected different figures relating to availability of water in Mahadayi Basin with
very large variations. The estimated water availability at 75% dependability for the
entire Mahadayi basin, which were reported by the party States and the experts,
varied from 208.73 to 145.05 tmc. One State would contend that Mahadayi Basin
is a surplus basin whereas another State would contend that Mahadayi Basin is a
deficient one. The result was that the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal had to
struggle a lot to arrive at an acceptable yield of Mahadayi Basin at 75% dependability, due to which, most of the time of the Tribunal was occupied only in
determining the yield of Mahadayi Basin at 75% dependability.
1413. The situation is undoubtedly very serious. This is more so in view of the fact
that the Hydrology Studies Organization of CWC is fully devoted to hydrological
analysis and a premier research institute namely, National Institute of Hydrology is
in existence since 1978 with main objective of undertaking, aiding, promoting and
coordinating systematic and scientific work in all aspects of hydrology. As per the
web-site of the National Institute of Hydrology, the Institute is well equipped to
carry out computer, laboratory and field oriented studies. Further, the Tribunal is
also informed that a Hydrology Project with assistance of the World Bank is being
implemented by the Union Ministry of Water Resources since 1995, that the
Phase-I and Phase-II of the said project have since been successfully implemented
and that the Phase-III of the project is currently under implementation with
objectives ‘to improve the extent, quality and accessibility of water resources
information, and to strengthen the capacity of water resources management institutions in India.’
1414. The Tribunal is baffled and also anguished that despite availability of considerable data, existence of expert organization and institutions and implementation
of specific projects related to hydrological data, hydrological analysis and capacity
building, the Tribunal had to struggle for arriving at an acceptable value of water
availability at 75% dependability of the Mahadayi basin.”
Data Usage for Development, Management of Water Resources
155