Water

Dispute &
Conflict
Indus Water Treaty
Background:

The Indus River is a major river system that flows through India and Pakistan.
After the partition of British India in 1947, the control of the Indus River system became a source of conflict
between India and Pakistan.

Treaty:

The Indus Water Treaty was signed on September 19, 1960, between India, Pakistan, and the World Bank.
It was brokered by the World Bank and is considered one of the most successful international water treaties in
history.
KEY PROVISIONS
• Allocation of Waters:
• The treaty divides the waters of the Indus River system into two categories:
• Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej): Allocated to India
• Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab): Allocated to Pakistan
• Transitional Period:
• Pakistan was given a 10-year transitional period to develop alternative water sources for the eastern rivers that
it had lost.
• Permanent Works:
• India agreed to construct storage dams on the eastern rivers to ensure a steady flow of water to Pakistan.
• Dispute Resolution:
• The treaty established a Permanent Indus Commission to resolve any disputes or differences that may arise.
BENEFITS
• Reduced Conflict: The treaty has significantly reduced tensions between India and
Pakistan over water resources.
• * Economic Development: The treaty has facilitated economic development in both
countries by providing reliable water supplies for agriculture, industry, and hydropower.
• * Environmental Protection: The treaty has helped to protect the Indus River ecosystem
by regulating water flows and preventing over-extraction.
CHALLENGES
• Climate Change: Climate change is affecting water availability in the Indus River
system, posing challenges to the treaty's implementation.
• * Population Growth: The increasing population in both India and Pakistan is putting
pressure on water resources, which could strain the treaty.
• * Political Tensions: Political tensions between India and Pakistan can sometimes affect
the cooperation necessary to implement the treaty.
CONCLUSION
• The Indus Water Treaty is a landmark agreement that has played a crucial role in managing
water resources in the Indus River system. It has contributed to peace, economic
development, and environmental protection in the region. However, it faces challenges due to
climate change, population growth, and political tensions, which require continued
cooperation between India and Pakistan.
INDIA-CHINA WATER CONFLICT
OVER BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER
• The Brahmaputra River is a major transboundary river that originates in Tibet (China)
and flows through India and Bangladesh. It is a crucial water source for all three
countries, but its management has been a source of conflict between India and China.
KEY ISSUES:
• Diversion of Waters: China has been constructing dams and other infrastructure
projects on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, which India fears could reduce the flow of
water downstream.
• Data Sharing: India has accused China of not sharing sufficient hydrological data on
the Brahmaputra River, making it difficult for India to plan for water management and
flood control.
• Environmental Concerns: India is concerned about the potential environmental
impacts of China's dams on the Brahmaputra River ecosystem, including changes in
water flow, sedimentation, and biodiversity.
INDIAN CONCERNS:
• India relies heavily on the Brahmaputra River for irrigation, hydropower, and
navigation.
• Reduced water flows could have a devastating impact on India's agriculture, economy,
and environment.
• India fears that China could use its control over the Brahmaputra River as a political
weapon.
CHINESE POSITION
• China maintains that its dams on the Brahmaputra River are primarily for hydropower
generation and flood control.
• China claims that it has not diverted any water from the Brahmaputra River and that its
projects will not significantly affect downstream flows.
• China has also accused India of exaggerating the potential impacts of its dams.
EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT
• India and China have held several rounds of talks on the Brahmaputra River issue, but
no concrete agreement has been reached.
• In 2013, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on sharing
hydrological data, but India has complained that China has not provided sufficient data.
• In 2017, India and China established an Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) on the
Brahmaputra River to discuss technical issues and build trust.
CHALLENGES
• The Brahmaputra River is a complex and dynamic system, making it difficult to predict
the exact impacts of China's dams.
• Trust deficit between India and China makes it challenging to resolve the conflict.
• Climate change is adding further uncertainty to the water situation in the Brahmaputra
River basin.
CONCLUSION
• The India-China water conflict over the Brahmaputra River is a complex and sensitive
issue. Both countries have legitimate concerns about water security, but they need to
find a way to cooperate on managing this shared resource. Failure to do so could have
serious consequences for the people and economies of both countries.
INDIA – BANGLADESH WATER
CONFLICT
• India and Bangladesh share 54 transboundary rivers, including the Ganges,
Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers. While these rivers are vital for both countries, their
management has been a source of conflict and tension.
KEY ISSUES
• Water Sharing: India and Bangladesh have not been able to reach a comprehensive
agreement on sharing the waters of their transboundary rivers. This has led to disputes over
water allocation, particularly during the dry season.
• Diversion of Waters: India has constructed a number of dams and barrages on its side of the
border, which Bangladesh claims have reduced the flow of water into Bangladesh.
• Flooding: Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to flooding, and it accuses India of
releasing water from its dams without sufficient notice, which exacerbates flooding in
Bangladesh.
• Environmental Concerns: Bangladesh is concerned about the environmental impacts of
India's dams and other water projects, including changes in water flow, sedimentation, and
biodiversity.
INDIAN CONCERNS:
• India argues that it has a right to use the waters of its own rivers for its own
development needs.
• India is concerned that sharing too much water with Bangladesh could lead to
shortages in India.
• India also fears that Bangladesh could use its control over the Ganges River as a
political weapon.
BANGLADESHI CONCERS
• Bangladesh relies heavily on the Ganges River for irrigation, drinking water, and
transportation.
• Reduced water flows from India could have a devastating impact on Bangladesh's
economy and environment.
• Bangladesh is also concerned about the potential environmental impacts of India's
dams and other water projects
EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT
• India and Bangladesh have held several rounds of talks on water sharing, but no
concrete agreement has been reached.
• In 1996, the two countries signed the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, which governs the
sharing of the Ganges River waters during the dry season. However, this treaty does not
cover other transboundary rivers.
• In 2015, India and Bangladesh signed a Framework Agreement on Cooperation on
Water Resources, which aims to establish a comprehensive framework for managing all
transboundary rivers. However, this agreement has not yet been implemented.
CHALLENGES
• The water conflict between India and Bangladesh is complex and involves a number of
technical, political, and environmental issues.
• * Trust deficit between the two countries makes it difficult to resolve the conflict.
• * Climate change is adding further uncertainty to the water situation in the region.
 CONCLUSION
• The India-Bangladesh water conflict is a major challenge for both countries. Failure to
resolve this conflict could have serious consequences for the people and economies of
both countries. It is important for India and Bangladesh to work together to find a
mutually acceptable solution that ensures the equitable sharing of water resources and
protects the environment.
INDIA-NEPAL WATER CONFLICT
• India and Nepal share several transboundary rivers, including the Ganges, Kosi, and
Mahakali rivers. While these rivers are vital for both countries, their management has
been a source of conflict and tension.
KEY ISSUES
• Water Sharing: India and Nepal have not been able to reach a comprehensive agreement
on sharing the waters of their transboundary rivers. This has led to disputes over water
allocation, particularly during the dry season.
• Diversion of Waters: India has constructed a number of dams and barrages on its side
of the border, which Nepal claims have reduced the flow of water into Nepal.
• Flooding: Nepal is particularly vulnerable to flooding, and it accuses India of releasing
water from its dams without sufficient notice, which exacerbates flooding in Nepal.
• Environmental Concerns: Nepal is concerned about the environmental impacts of
India's dams and other water projects, including changes in water flow, sedimentation,
and biodiversity.
NEPALESE CONCERNS
• Nepal relies heavily on the transboundary rivers for irrigation, drinking water, and
hydropower generation.
• Reduced water flows from India could have a devastating impact on Nepal's economy
and environment.
• Nepal is also concerned about the potential environmental impacts of India's dams and
other water projects.
INDIAN CONCERNS
• India argues that it has a right to use the waters of its own rivers for its own
development needs.
• India is concerned that sharing too much water with Nepal could lead to shortages in
India.
• India also fears that Nepal could use its control over the transboundary rivers as a
political weapon.
EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT
• India and Nepal have held several rounds of talks on water sharing, but no concrete
agreement has been reached.
• In 1996, the two countries signed the Mahakali River Treaty, which governs the
sharing of the Mahakali River waters. However, this treaty does not cover other
transboundary rivers.
• In 2014, India and Nepal signed an agreement to establish a Joint Committee on Water
Resources to discuss and resolve water-related issues.
CHALLENGES
• The water conflict between India and Nepal is complex and involves a number of
technical, political, and environmental issues.
• Trust deficit between the two countries makes it difficult to resolve the conflict.
• Climate change is adding further uncertainty to the water situation in the region.
CONCLUSION
• The India-Nepal water conflict is a major challenge for both countries. Failure to
resolve this conflict could have serious consequences for the people and economies of
both countries. It is important for India and Nepal to work together to find a mutually
acceptable solution that ensures the equitable sharing of water resources and protects
the environment.