South Asia needs new water-sharing regime

Amidst the blow given by the International Arbitration Panel to India vis-a-vis Kishenganga Project, a report released by the Ministry of Water Resources brings more bad news for the country. This report, named ‘Charting South Asia’s Water Future’ goes on to conclude that it is almost impossible to go on with the mere division of the Indus Rivers.
 
Water and Water Resources experts from several South Asian nations gathered in Delhi this week to discuss the future of water sharing and other modalities in a seminar organised by Observer Research Foundation. After day long deliberations, the experts, including those from Bangladesh and Pakistan, reached to the conclusion that old modalities of water sharing will not last for long considering change in ground realities. The report further recommended that the countries in the region must look out for fresh political possibilities so that rivers of the region can be optimally utilised among the neighboring nations. The report was released by the Minister of State for Water Resources, Vincent H. Pala. The report was part of the seminar on 'Planning for Sustainable Urban Utilities: Water & Solid Waste' that was organised by ORF. Apart from ORF, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry also contributed in the conceptualization and preparation of the report.

Among other solutions, the report also suggested that “total basin management in respect of a trans-boundary river is now recognised to be the best approach for the best possible development of water resources for equitable benefit for all, each gaining more than is possible under narrow national approaches.”
   
“This approach will allow local, national and regional issues to be addressed within an overall framework. The benefits derivable from cooperative total basin management of trans-boundary rivers include increased food and energy production (from the river), reduced geo-political tensions, enhanced flood management (because of the river), catalyzing wider cooperation and economic integration (beyond the river) and improved water quality and conserved bio-diversity (to the river),” reads the recommendation of the report.
 
It further added that  “water politics among South Asian Nations, that are co-riparian in key river basins, urgently need an ecological dimension and must acknowledge the varied fluvial linkages, from the delta-upwards. This will involve, significantly enough, harnessing the full gamut of what have been termed as confidence building measures (CBMs), such as evolving soft borders, thickening track two diplomacy and actively enabling scholarly exchange”.
 
The report has recommended diverse steps to ameliorate skillfulness in the utilization of river and ground water in agriculture and allied activities. Experts believe that agriculture still remains the biggest user of water followed by industry and domestic consumption comes much later in the table. Introduction of new technologies in agriculture has a potential to reduce misuse of water resources.