This chapter aims to critically analyze the concept of tradition as often ideologically understood in the context of water management interventions in India. Given its mandate and mission, Megh Payan Abhiyan (MPA) has reacted to these findings by proposing to extend the research to the history of water management in the region. As a response, the case study of an alternative approach of engaging with tradition, both on conceptual and practical levels, is illustrated. The chapter highlights a series of conceptual traps in which water management interventions may fall into while taking on board the idea of tradition in project design and implementation. The traditionalist discourse of natural resource management will be briefly outlined and contradicted with reference to the anthropological literature. The anthropological literature helps to unravel the assumptions behind the traditionalist discourse and identify the related traps in which natural resources management programs.