As a matter of fact, the decision not to attend the meeting was a well deliberated conscious decision and it had been conveyed to the organisers. It may be mentioned that after careful consideration of the WCD Report, the Government of India, the Ministry of Water Resources has not accepted the recommendations and guidelines of the WCD Report and to that effect, the Ministry had already conveyed to the WCD.

    The Ministry of Water Resources had earlier pointed out serious lapses in the "India Country Study" prepared by experts from outside the Water Resources sector, WCD gave an understanding that the views of the Ministry would be adequately reflected in its report. However, the understanding was conveniently overlooked and the finding of WCD in its final report was heavily based on these flawed documents. Moreover, the experience of the Ministry of Water Resources with such discussions organised by WCD in the past at Indian Institute of Public Administration have not been encouraging as the organisers chose not to allow the views of the other side to be expressed during such discussions. It was a well thought of decision of the Government not to participate in this meeting.

    If at all there is need for a debate on the option of development in the sector, it should not be confined to the high echelons of intelligentsia. It has to be driven to the doorsteps of the farmers who have to look heavenly for enabling them to make two ends meet or to those drought parched areas where the women trudge miles together to get a few drops of drinking water for their survival. Let the debate on de-commissioning of the dams as recommended in the WCD report be taken to Ludhiana (Punjab), Hanumangarh (Rajasthan) and Bellary (Karnatka).