The Water Resources Policy Process in India: Centralisation, Polarisation and New Demands on Governance

摘要: This paper reviews the literature on characteristics of post-Independence water resources policy process in India, with an emphasis recent period when critiques existing and demands for new or adapted governance structures have become increasingly forceful. It will be shown that dynamics has been studied to a very limited extent, compared to, example, study (economic) impacts policies local-level management practices. The first point makes is era institutional transformation sector, analysis actual processes required. sketch 'policy as process' 'politics policy' perspectives from which such could undertaken. then moves discuss certain main structure India. A characteristic centralisation hierarchy, rooted planned development approach, inherited government administration, specific nature civil engineering dominated bureaucracy other factors, reproduced themselves forms shapes under competitive populism, but are facing severe dilemmas problems age liberalisation. second Indian high degree polarisation debate interaction between society state. Narmada interlinking rivers issues cases point, it much broader phenomenon. points absence (effective) institutions mediating conflicts, particularly at intermediate level. Great hopes put by some decentralisation through Panchayat Raj institutions. argues PRI system ‘localist’ approaches general unable address core sector. concludes research agenda strategic sector political economy public perspective. 1 author Senior Researcher Centre Development Research (ZEF) Bonn, Germany, coordinator Natural Resources Social Dynamics group ZEF’s Department Political Cultural Change. Comments welcome pmollinga@uni-bonn.de.