Water Policy 8 (2006) 1–13 Water in the economy of Tamil Nadu, India: more flexible water allocation policies offer a possible way out of water-induced economic stagnation and will be good for the environment and the poor Ramesh Bhatiab, John Briscoea, R. P. S. Malika,c, Lindy Millerd, Smita Misraa, K. Palainisamie and N. Harshadeepf aThe World Bank, 70, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi, India bCorresponding author. Resources and Environment Group, SU-125 Vishakha Enclave, New Delhi, India. Tel: 650 638 1560, Fax: 650 506 1236. E-mail:
[email protected] cAgricultural Economics Research Centre, University of Delhi, Delhi, India dHarvard University, USA eWater Technology Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India fThe World Bank, Washington, D.C. Received 8 July 2005; accepted in revised form 4 October 2005 Abstract The state of Tamil Nadu, India, is in the grips of a water crisis, with demand far outstripping supply. As the economy of the state grows, this crisis is going to become ever more serious. To date the focus of state water policy has been on trying to augment supplies, from within the state (even from desalinization) and from neighboring states. In addition, the water use is regulated in a way that does not encourage the highest value uses. International experience shows that supply-side measures must be complemented by demand-side measures and that practice must move away from fixed, command-and-control allocation policies towards flexible allocation mechanisms, which facilitate the voluntary movement of water from low to high-value uses. This study addresses the question of whether such a change in allocation policies is worth doing.