Abstract
South Asia is gradually heading towards a shortfall of water,
which is being exacerbated by growing population,
industrialisation, mismanagement, and lack of cooperation.
This region hosts major systems of international
watercourses, including the Indus, the Ganges and the
Brahmaputra. South Asian countries have taken initiatives to
cooperate in development and management of water
resources, but have serious issues and disputes in this sector.
Because of its central location in the region and its sharing of
borders with most SAARC countries, India is at the centre of
water disputes in the region. It has water treaties and
issues/disputes with Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. The
unilateral behaviour of India, asymmetric power relations
among states, absence of framework agreements,
nationalistic sentiments among smaller states, and lack of
regional mechanism to share waters are among the main
reasons for water disputes in South Asia. Therefore, to really
benefit from the water resources available in the region,
South Asian countries need to be more forthcoming and
cooperative among themselves, with due consideration for
the interests of smaller states; they have to leave their
historical baggage behind and move forward with a sense of
trust and understanding; they should come out of narrow
nationalism and undue sensitivity, and focus on development;
and they have to harness the water resources under a regional
mechanism.
K. N. Adhikari. (2014) Conflict and Cooperation on South Asian Water Resources, IPRI Journal, Volume-14, Issue-2.
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