Hydrological data and evidence and advice of water experts must take precedence over polemics in planning projects like dams, he said. That would help understand the impact of a dam on agricultural activities and drinking water supply, he said when asked to comment on move by Kerala government to build a dam across Siruvani river in Attapadi in Kerala and its possible fall out on drinking water and irrigation facilities in Coimbatore and Erode districts. "Such issues must not be addressed on the basis of parochial politics. Scientific reasoning and the well-being of people must be the yardsticks to decide whether a project is desirable,'' he said.

On the Mullaperiyar issue, Thatte said the Supreme Court would give its verdict based on the report of the expert committee, which looked at scientific facts. "The committee was unmindful of the gains and losses of both sides. Our report was comprehensive and based on facts. The court would soon give its verdict and we hoe that would help end all the controversy over the issue,'' he said.

Water, Thatte said, was emerging as a cause of conflict world over. "Don't think that water causes only inter-state disputes. It now creates divide even at district, taluk and village levels. Along with hydrological facts, economic and social situations must be considered while planning water distribution of water,'' he said, pointing out that disputes are multiplying all over the world because of the decrease in per capita availability of water.

When asked about the growing anti-dam campaigns across the world, Thatte said dams are inevitable. "What would be Tamil Nadu without the Mettur dam? Even in the future, we have to build some major and minor dams. Prudence must be the guiding light,'' he said. When asked about the safety concerns related to old dams, he said a dam in Jordan was stable though it was built 20,000 years ago. Thatte also called for speeding up interlinking of rivers and better rain water harvesting facilities. "We are talking at length about poor monsoon and drought. But 45% of rain water is wasted each year in the absence of water harvesting facilities,'' he said. "Ground water needs urgent attention as there is alarming depletion of it due to rapid urbanization. It needs to be recharged, else the future would be difficult,'' he said.