RESEARCH EXPERIENCE IN WATER RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT
Integrated
Water Resources Management
As Water Resources Specialist at the World Bank, Washington
D.C. carried out detailed studies on
emerging competition for water and analyses of policy instruments which would
ensure economically efficient, socially equitable and environmentally sustainable
water allocation and use. The river basins selected were Subernarekha in eastern India and Jabotabek region in Indonesia.
Multi-sectoral analysis was
carried out by field surveys and personal visits to India and Indonesia. The
studies involved estimation of multiple
uses of water (industry, households and agriculture) and the effects of water
pollution from industry and sewage on estimates of water availability for agriculture.
Industry sector analyses included the impact of water pricing, groundwater
extraction charges, pollution charges and pollution taxes on water demand, recycling
and re-use. Similar analyses were done for water conservation
opportunities in the household sector and irrigated agriculture.
Mathematical programming models were used to find “near optimum” allocation
of water under varying assumptions of water prices, investments in pollution
control technologies and crop prices.
Industrial Water Use
Regulation and policy instruments
were studied in assessing industrial water demand in the Subernarekha river
basin. Carried out a detailed study, on behalf of UNIDO, of water tariffs and
effluent charges to encourage water recycling and re-use resulting in reduced
water demand and pollution control in 1997-98.
Urban Water Demand Management and Pricing in Indonesia
and India
As Water Resources Specialist at the World Bank and Task Manager
for two research projects:
Research Study in Indonesia:
Field survey of 500 households was
organized in the Jabotabek
region in collaboration with IWACO--WASECO,
PDAM Bogor and DKI to estimate
water use, prices paid for various
sources of water supply and
options for water demand management. The
effect of price and non-price
instruments were evaluated with a view
to water conservation in the
household sector. Policies for
augmentation of supplies at
affordable costs for the poor were also
discussed.
Research Study in India:
A field survey of 500 households was
carried out in urban areas
of Jamshedpur (Bihar) and nearby towns to
assess the willingness-to-pay
and ability to pay for water by
households at varying income
levels, particularly the poor. Designed
the field survey and questionnaires
using contingent valuation method
for data collection on water
use, as well as willingness-to-pay at
varying levels of connection
costs and monthly charges for household
connections.
Willingness/Ability-To-Pay for Water in Rural Areas:
Surveys and Analyses
Willingness-to-Pay Methodology for Water in Rural Areas in India, Pakistan,
Brazil, Nigeria and Zimbabwe: member
of the study team to estimate water demand and willingness-to-pay using contingent
valuation method for water in rural areas in India, Pakistan, Brazil, Nigeria
and Zimbabwe. Part of team developing WTP methodology and survey instrument.
Directed field survey team and performed survey analysis for Kerala,
India; survey work involved baseline and follow-up efforts.
Part of team developing overall cross-country results. (World Bank 1988 to 1992).
Water Use
Efficiency and Productivity in Irrigated Agriculture
Conceptual issues in water use efficiency and food
security (at macro and household levels)
were anlysed in two papers prepared for the meetings of Technical Advisory Committee
of the Global Water Partnership in 1997.
Definitions of basin-level efficiency by taking into account the return
flows and downstream uses were also taken into account while defining various
Performance Indicators for large irrigation schemes in IIMI’s Program on Performance
Assessment. These were applied to a number of schemes in India, Pakistan, Malaysia,
Sri Lanka and Morocco.
Irrigation
Water Pricing and Cost Recovery in India
Analysis
of water pricing and cost recovery which included
analysis of ability-to-pay and affordability for surface
and ground
water irrigation and involved field work in India (Bihar
and Haryana).
(International Irrigation Management Institute, 1988
to 1994).