About the Talk
The history of transboundary water sharing is replete with struggles. India is not an exception, and many interstate river basins have become difficult to manage. This can be attributed to weak water dispute settlement mechanisms in India and political leaderships that seek political edge from the complex scenario arising therefrom. This challenge poses a serious threat to the solidarity of the nation. Overcoming this would be an important prerequisite for a prosperous India of the future. Resolution of water disputes requires delicate balancing of conflicting interests of stakeholders via legal adjudication and bilateral and multilateral treaties. If managed optimally, water can be a cementing force for the society otherwise, a cause of war. The talk would expound on lessons from the successes and failures of Gujarat state in resolving its interstate water disputes, while focusing on the significance of deriving congenial paradigms to ensure better redressal in the future. For this, it relies on the empirical experiences of Gujarat in dealing with its neighboring states over interstate rivers.
About the speaker
Vivek Purushottamdas Kapadia is the secretary to the Government of Gujarat, and Director, Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited. He has over two decades experience of working as an expert in varied aspects of water management in India. He holds Master’s degrees in both engineering and law, and a post-graduate diploma in business administration and computer applications. Mr. Kapadia has been actively involved in design, execution, policy making and legal aspects of water resources engineering and management and has worked widely on applications of geosynthetics in civil engineering. One of the pioneers in the participatory water conservation movement which started in Gujarat, he has contributed extensively towards the rejuvenation of ancient Indian water conservation systems, and water management institutions.
The talk was recorded live and can be accessed on CPR’s Facebook page here.