This book investigates the complex intersection of physical, economic, and institutional factors that define water resource management and irrigation practices in India. A. Vaidyanathan, a noted economist, argues that water management cannot be analyzed in isolation but must be understood as a dynamic, historical process. He provides a comprehensive framework that integrates technical irrigation data with the socio-economic realities of the Indian landscape.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the structural challenges of Indian water policy. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous analytical basis for students and policymakers alike.