AREAS OF RESEARCH:

Agrarian institutions, interlinked agrarian markets, water management, water conflicts, stakeholder analysis and multi-stakeholder dialogues, environment, urban and peri-urban issues, disaster management and livelihood resilience

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Books
 
Rural India Facing the 21st Century: Essays on Long-term Village Change and Recent Development Policy, (Ed.) jointly with Barbara Harriss-White, Anthem Press, London, 2004

Avala Nilayil Thamizhaga Arugal (A Book in Tamil on the current status of river basins and the proceedings of the Multi-stakeholders? dialogue process in the Palar basin, Tamilnadu, published for MIDS by Kalachuvadu, 2003

Research Reports

Competition, Conflicts and Crisis: Threats to Ecology and Environment and the Tragedy of Commons, report submitted to the IDRC, 2001 (mimeo).

Conditions and Characteristics of Groundwater Irrigation: A Study of Vaigai Basin in Tamilnadu, a research report submitted to the Union Planning Commission, Government of India, 1997 (mimeo)

Adjustment and Development: Agrarian Change, Markets and Social Welfare in South India, 1973-1993, jointly with Barbara Harriss-White, a research report submitted to ODA, UK, 1996 (mimeo)

Management of Irrigation and Its Effect on Productivity Under Different Environmental and Technical Conditions: A Study of Two Surface Irrigation Systems in Tamilnadu, jointly with A.Vaidyanathan, research report submitted to the Union Planning Commission, Govt. of India, 1989 (mimeo).

Important papers published

'Interlinked Transactions and the Market for Water in the Agrarian Economy of Tamilnadu Village', in S.Subramanian, (ed.), Themes in Developmental Economics: Essays in Honour of Malcolm S. Adiseshiah, Oxford University Press, Delhi, 1992.

'Trading in Groundwater: A Source of Power and Accumulation' in Marcus Moench (ed.) Selling Water: Conceptual and Policy Debates Over Groundwater Markets in India, VIKSAT and Pacific Institute, USA, 1994.

'Village Resurveys: Issues and Results', in Jan Breman, Peter Kloos and Ashwani Saith (eds.), The Village in Asia Revisited, Oxford University Press, Delhi, 1997.

'Subjective and Objective Indicators of Welfare Change Over Time: Evidence from a Resurvey', co-authored with Paul Seabright, in S.Subramanian and Barbara Harriss-White (eds.), Illfare in India: Essays on India's Social Sector in Honour of S.Guhan, Sage, Delhi, 1999.

'Conflicts Over the Invisible Resource: Is there a Way Out?' in Moench, M., Elizabeth Caspari and Ajay Dixit (eds.) Rethinking the Mosaic: Investigations into Local Water Management, published by NWCF and ISET (USA), 1999.

'The Survival of the Fittest ? Conflict Over the Use of Groundwater: Some Evidence from Tamilnadu, South India', in A.Vaidyanathan and H.M.Oudshoorn (eds.), Managing Water Scarcity: Experiences and Prospects, IDPAD Series, Manohar Publishers, 2004

'More Water and More Pollution', The Hindu Survey of Environment, 2003

'The Politics of Power Subsidization: The State of Power sector in Tamilnadu', Water Nepal, Vol.8, No.1/2, March 2000-June 2001

'Consequences of Aquifer Over-Exploitation: Prosperity Versus Deprivation', Review of Development and Change, Vol.II, No.1, Jan-June 1997

'From Green Revolution to Rural Industrial Revolution in South India', jointly with Barbara Harriss-White, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol.XXXII, No.25, June 21-27 1997

'Triadic Exchange Relations: An Illustration from South India', IDS Bulletin (Sussex), Vol.24, No. 3, July 1993

'In Search of Tanks: Some Hidden Facts', Economic and Political Weekly, Review of Agriculture, Vol.XXVIII, No.26, June 1993

'Economic and Social Implications of Groundwater Irrigation: Some Evidence from South India', Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Vol.48, No.1, Jan-March 1993

'Are Wells a Potential Threat to Farmers? Well-being? The Case of Deteriorating Groundwater Irrigation in Tamilnadu', jointly with Marcus Moench, (Paper invited for publication as a chapter in a proposed book edited by Marcus Moench, Elizabeth Caspari and Ajaya Dixit)

'Water Markets, Commodity Chains and the Value of Water', jointly with Marcus Moench, Working Paper - Forthcoming (Paper invited for publication as a chapter in a book being edited by Marcus Moench, Elizabeth Caspari and Ajaya Dixit)

'Soiled Agriculture and Spoiled Environment: Socio-Economic Impact of Groundwater Pollution in Tamilnadu', Working Paper - forthcoming (Paper invited for publication as a chapter in a book being edited by Marcus Moench, Elizabeth Caspari and Ajaya Dixit).

Current research

Negotiating urban and peri-urban water conflicts - The case of Chennai water crisis
Solutions to Chennai water crisis
Poverty and livelihood adaptations in peri-urban areas
Water audit - Developing a methodology
Resolving inter-state water dispute - The case of Cauvery

Ongoing multi-stakeholders? dialogue process

As an offshoot of research on water and environment related for about two decades, multi-stakeholders? dialogue process has been in set in motion in three cases in Tamilnadu with a view to managing water scarcity, water conflicts and water pollution. The three cases are the following:

The Palar basin, well known for tannery pollution, is an almost dead river. A multi-Stakeholders? Committee of the Palar River Basin was constituted with 25 members drawn from all sectors such as agriculture, tanning industry, domestic users, NGOs, academics, lawyers and doctors and so on. This Committee, which has met 7 times so far is trying to resolve the issue of water pollution in the basin.

The Committee of Cauvery Family has been constituted in 2003 with 15 farmers? leaders drawn from each major contending state of Tamilnadu and Karnataka. This Committee has met five times so far. The dialogue among farmers have been extremely useful in so far as creating an cordial atmosphere and creating a climate of caring and sharing for each other. The Committee at present is working on the distress sharing formula in sharing the water.

A Multi-stakeholders? Committee of Water Users of Chennai city and peri-urban areas have been constituted with 40 members with a view to negotiating urban - peri-urban water conflicts and to find permanent solutions to drinking water problems of Chennai and peri-urban areas.

Membership

Member, Global Water Partnership
Member, India Water Partnership
Member, Indian Society for Ecological Economics.