States’ refusal to part with data delayed irrigation report: IIM-A

A report on irrigation by IIM-Ahmedabad for the Centre got delayed because the states were “not prepared to part with the data and support within the pressing time,” says the B-school. In August 2007,the institute was asked to prepare a report on ‘Irrigation Potential Created and Irrigation Potential Utilised’ within eight months. However,the time period was extended to August 2008,but got further delayed and was only submitted recently. In its final report submitted to the Ministry of Water Resources,the advisor of the team S K Das said,”We suffered two serious drawbacks,which could probably be avoided with better planning and coordination.”

Das said various states and union territories “were not prepared to provide the necessary data and support within the pressing time.”

He said the data was not shared “either because they don’t have such organised data or because,for some reason,they did not like to part with their data. Our wild goose chase came to an end only when we realised that funds and time were running down rapidly … apparently because of frustration and uncertainty,a lot of research staff left half way,thus adding to our misery,” Das said.

IIM-Ahmedabad was among the four IIMs given the task of preparing the report on the Irrigation Potential Created and Irrigation Potential Utilised in August,2007. The other IIMs included wereLucknow,Bangalore and Calcutta. PTI