WATER CONFLICTS IN INDIA

Presented By: Gunjan Gupta Manar Ramadan Sharanya Joshi Shivani Chaturvedi

AGENDA1. Overview and Growing importance of water in India2. What is a conflict ?3. What are Water rights ?4. Domestic conflicts5. International conflicts6. Success story7. Conclusion

GROWING IMPORTANCE OF WATER IN INDIA

Source: Central water commission

NEWS

WHAT IS A CONFLICT? Conflict refers to confrontations between groups or categories of people regarding a resource activity and its management. It may be positioned on a continuum ranging from mild tension to outright violence.(Bavinck, Sowman and Menon, 2014);

“ a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one” (Oxford Dictionary 2013)

Conflicting interests may or may not lead to confrontations (Bavinck, Mostert and Pellegrini 2014). Conflicts of interests could persist on account of unequal power relations. (Forced Cooperation)

WATER RIGHT – WHOSE RIGHTS?Theory of absolute territorial sovereignty- irrespective of the consequences in other countries and without the duty to consult, every nation can utilise the waters of an international river flowing on its territory, as it likes.

 Theory of absolute territorial integrity- the lower riparian of an international river has the right to a full flow of water of natural quality and intrusion with the natural flow by the upstream state require the consent of the downstream riparian.

 Theory of limited territorial sovereignty- This theory states that every state may and is free to enjoy the use of water flowing through their territory as long as such utilization does not disturb the rights and interest of co-riparian.

INTERSTATE RIVER WATER DISPUTE ACT

- 1956 under Article262 (Indian parliament approval) - Aim: To resolve the water disputes in use, control or distribution of inter-state rivers/ river valleys - To Who? : Central government receives a request (Section 3)

Use •Up stream sates(USS): Irrigation and over consumption

Control•USS: Huge reservoirs leading to

evaporation, dams, water quality•DSS: interventions that may lead

to floods

Distribute •USS: Canals and other branches (+

Dams)

CONSTITUTION OF TRIBUNAL

Water disputes could be raised for two independent parts: Actions of downstream state affecting the interest of an upstream stateActions of upstream state affecting the interest of an downstream state

1. Man made action of transferring river water outside the river basin (e.g. Irrigation, reservoirs … etc.)

2. Activities affecting water quality (e.g. Industrial waste, near by mining activities… etc.)-When to intervene? (Section 4 of IRWD)-Does it only stand at the tribunal of the case? (Section 5.2)-Investigation of effect on public domain, ecology, sustainability .. Etc.)-Establishment of Authorities: Central government schemes has provision to establish an authority for implementation, after parliament approval

INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT OF INDIATsangpo-Brahmaputra ( Indo – china conflict)China’s grand plans to harness the waters of the Brahmaputra River have set off ripples of anxiety in the two lower riparian states: India and Bangladesh. China’s construction of dams and the proposed diversion of the Brahmaputra’s waters is expected to have repercussions for water flow, agriculture, ecology, and lives and livelihoods downstream.

The Chinese government has approved hydropower projects along the Brahmaputra. It maintains that all these are run-of-the-river projects that involve no storage or diversion and that they will not affect the river’s downstream flow into northeast India.Still, its plans have generated apprehensions in India’s Northeast and in Bangladesh, where the Brahmaputra is a veritable lifeline and a core part of the cultural life.

CONTI…More worrying than China’s construction of hydropower dams on the Brahmaputra is the proposed northward rerouting of its waters.

This diversion would result in a significant drop in the river’s water level as it enters India. It will have a serious impact on agriculture and fishing in the downstream areas as the salinity of water will increase.

The lack of communication on the issue is deepening suspicion and tension.

This underscores the need for dialogue that includes all the riparian countries.

China must share data on its dam construction and other plans for the Brahmaputra.

CONTI… Mahakali River treaty ( Indo- Nepal)The Territorial disputes of India and Nepal include Kalapani 400 km2 and Susta 140 km2 . Nepal claims that the river to the west of Kalapani is the main Kali river, hence it belongs to Nepal. India insists that the river to the east of Kalapani is the main Kali river, and therefore claim the Kalapani area belongs to India. The river borders the Nepalese zone of Mahakali and the Indian state of Uttarakhand.The Kali River runs through an area that includes a disputed area of about 400 km² around the source of the river. The dispute intensified in 1997 as the Nepali parliament considered a treaty on hydro-electric development of the river. The Mahakali Treaty basically aims at an integrated development of water resources in the Mahakali River and has been finalized on the basis of equal partnership.

SUCCESS STORY Indus Waters Treaty (Indo- Pak)The Indus river has its source in Indian Kashmir and flows through Pakistan. It is the primary freshwater source for Pakistan. Agriculture being the mainstay of the economy in both countries, their dependence on the Indus and its tributaries is implicit.  From the Indian point of view, there was nothing that Pakistan could do to prevent India from any of the schemes to divert the flow of water in the rivers. Pakistan’s position was dismal and India could do whatever it wanted.

Pakistani fear that since the source rivers of the Indus basin were in India, it could potentially create droughts and famines in Pakistan led to The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank. The treaty was signed in Karachi on September 19, 1960.

CONTI..According to this agreement, control over Beas, Ravi and Sutlej was given to India and the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum to Pakistan. Since Pakistan's rivers flow through India first, the treaty allowed India to use them for irrigation, transport and power generation, while laying down precise do's and don'ts for Indian building projects along the way.

The treaty is considered to be one of the most successful watersharing endeavours in the world today. Since the ratification of the treaty in 1960, India and Pakistan have not engaged in any water wars.  

CONCLUSIONConflicts over water are not necessarily over water, or triggered by scarcity.

They are a reflection of social and power relations.

They are socially embedded.

They can be multi-layered, have a historical dimension.

They are enmeshed in local struggles for supremacy and power.

REFERENCES Gujja, Biksham, , K J Joy, and Suhas Paranjape. "Babhli Water Conflict: Less Water, More Politics". Economic & Political Weekly vol xlv.no 31 (2010): 12-15.

Gyawali, Dipak. "Institutional Forces Behind Water Conflict In The Ganga Plains". GeoJournal Vol. 47.No. 3, (1999): 443-452.

Singh, Prabhat. "Opinion". http://www.livemint.com/. N.p., 2015. Web. 23 Apr. 2016.

Sudha Ramachandran, The Diplomat. "Water Wars: China, India And The Great Dam Rush". The Diplomat. N.p., 2016. Web. 23 Apr. 2016.

Stephen Groves, The Diplomat. "India And Nepal Tackle Border Disputes". The Diplomat. N.p., 2016. Web. 23 Apr. 2016.

"Indus Water: Treaty And Conflicts". http://www.hindustantimes.com/. N.p., 2014. Web. 23 Apr. 2016.

"Kaveri River Water Dispute". Wikipedia. N.p., 2016. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. "Indus Waters Treaty". Wikipedia. N.p., 2016. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. Personal communication with Dr. Vishal Narain

THANK YOU