http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/2012/03/21/will-conflicts-over-water-scarcity-shape-south-asias-future/ Weekly Insight and Features from Asia Thu, 16 May 2013 18:20:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/2012/03/21/will-conflicts-over-water-scarcity-shape-south-asias-future/comment-page-1/#comment-1772 Punam Pandey (Ph. d) Sat, 24 Mar 2012 13:43:39 +0000 http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/?p=12416#comment-1772 First of all, congratulations for insightful description of South Asian water scenario and measures for plausible solutions. I put the suggestion of integrated water management of South Asia as the best case scenario and ideal model. The riverine structure of South Asian rivers also demand this. Unfortunately, reality has been very different and if past has some hint for future, then ideal scenario gives little hope. I would like to draw your attention on some aspects of South Asian river situation: As India is upstream, midstream and downstream, depending upon from which country you are seeing India. Bangladesh receives almost more than 90 percent of water from or through India, in this situation, Bangladesh is very apprehensive of each and every move of India on river water. On the other hand, in India, water data is a classified issue, it does not give clear picture of availability of water, is flow of river water changing as a result of climate change, how many barrages and dams are planned etc. In this part of world, water issue is politicized to such an extent in both countries that any concession on water is considered betrayal of local interests and giving advantage to a foreign country. Most importantly, India has been going through a change in political system where predominance of centre is losing and provincial states are becoming assertive. Not only this, Indian states are fighting among themselves over division of river water. First of all, congratulations for insightful description of South Asian water scenario and measures for plausible solutions.
I put the suggestion of integrated water management of South Asia as the best case scenario and ideal model. The riverine structure of South Asian rivers also demand this. Unfortunately, reality has been very different and if past has some hint for future, then ideal scenario gives little hope.
I would like to draw your attention on some aspects of South Asian river situation:
As India is upstream, midstream and downstream, depending upon from which country you are seeing India. Bangladesh receives almost more than 90 percent of water from or through India, in this situation, Bangladesh is very apprehensive of each and every move of India on river water. On the other hand, in India, water data is a classified issue, it does not give clear picture of availability of water, is flow of river water changing as a result of climate change, how many barrages and dams are planned etc. In this part of world, water issue is politicized to such an extent in both countries that any concession on water is considered betrayal of local interests and giving advantage to a foreign country.
Most importantly, India has been going through a change in political system where predominance of centre is losing and provincial states are becoming assertive. Not only this, Indian states are fighting among themselves over division of river water.

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