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India, Australia seek to work together on water solutions
- An integrated approach to supply and demand side water management is the best response to water stress and climate change, experts from Australia and India pointed out at a panel discussion
- With the success story of integrated approach in the Murray-Darling basin, the Australian experience in water management is seen as a natural area of collaboration with India.
- There were similarities between Australia and India with regard to developing river basins, pollution control or increasing the efficiency of water use in agriculture.
- Other areas of cooperation, as India readies its new reforms-oriented National Water Policy, are “best practices” in water reform, setting up of institutions to deliver “managed sustainability,” developing models that focus on “climate to hydrology” and in building institutional and human resource capacities.
- There were strong views on marketing of water — a natural resource. “At the same time, there cannot be water use efficiency unless there is some value on water,” he said, adding that water must be provided free to some sections that cannot afford it and priced for others.
- Technical expert in watershed development Alok Sikka underscored the need for interface of hydrological and socio-economic models of water management in an integrated manner for adaptation to climate change.
Cameron leads the attack on Indian decision on Rafale
- Prime Minister David Cameron led an attack on India for selecting French firm Dassault Rafale for a mega deal to supply fighter jets ignoring British claims as MPs and the media accused New Delhi of “ingratitude,” arguing that Britain gave millions of pounds in aid to India.
- Mr. Cameron's intervention came as his party MPs and right-wing media questioned the wisdom of giving aid to India if it persisted in “snubbing” Britain.
- “Of course, I will do everything I can — as I have already — to encourage the Indians to look at Typhoon, because I think it is such a good aircraft,” he said.
