V. Srinivas is a retired Chief Engineer of the Irrigation Department, Telangana, with 38 years of professional experience in irrigation planning, construction, operation, maintenance and water management. His career involved working across major irrigation projects, canals, tanks and command areas, giving him extensive first-hand exposure to both the engineering and institutional challenges of irrigation delivery.

His experience gradually led him to question a basic assumption: whether completing a dam, canal or distribution system necessarily means that irrigation has succeeded. His field experience showed him that the real test lies much farther downstream—at the tail-end, where farmers ultimately depend on reliable and equitable water delivery.

Beyond Headworks is his first major book, bringing together his professional experiences, observations and reflections from nearly four decades in the irrigation sector.