Cauvery Dispute Changing Paradigms

J Jeyaranjan for granted the existing system. It is this system that has led to the inefficiencies that people are complaining about. Why should future policy then be based on that structure? Let us look for alternatives and ask the TRAI to place such choices before us. What has been the experience of deregulation, etc, in other countries? We hear about how telephone rates fell in the Philippines. We hear about how common cell phones have become there. What kind of deregulation did they do? What are the adverse effects? What can we learn from such experiences? The debate has to be enriched with information and analyses of experience. We need much more information. The public should not be asked to decide without all the details being available. If some data are not available, let the TRAI say so and then seek acceptable assumptions and suggestions. These are matters where consensus will have to be built. In placing this paper before us, the TRAI has taken the first step towards building such a consensus.