Modes of governance in India's hydropower development

Overview

Kelly D. Alley

Published Online: Dec 19 2016

DOI: 10.1002/wat2.1198

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This paper takes a qualitative, context‐specific approach to governance in hydropower development in India by identifying and describing three modes that are important to planning and operations in this sector. Attention is given to the role of documents and citizen actions in the courts, expanding the coverage of water informality in India. Rent‐seeking is also identified as a mode of governance. This qualitative examination draws from policy and official documents, testimonies, and citizen‐justice interactions to shed light on cultural practices and rules that are opaque to the outsider. Analysis of the interplay of these modes of governance forms a deeper understanding of the human dimensions of hydroclimatic challenges across the Himalayas. WIREs Water 2017, 4:e1198. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1198 This article is categorized under: Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness Engineering Water > Planning Water Human Water > Water Governance

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