South Asian concern for effective water management

It was as such a great pleasure to be able to participate this month in the Third South Asia Water Forum (SAWAF-III), a water related conference, which was convened in Dhaka from July 13-15 and to inter-act with hydrologists, engineers and environmental activists from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Japan, Australia, Malaysia, Netherlands, UK and the USA. It may be recalled here that SAWAF-I was held in Kathmandu, Nepal in January, 2002 and SAWAF-II in Islamabad, Pakistan in December, 2002. My association with the SAWAF-III meeting resulted from my being the Regional Member (South Asia) from Bangladesh to the Global Water Partnership Forum.

Several months of preparation had gone in arranging the Forum which was sponsored by GWP (South Asia), Japan Water Forum and the UNDP. Participated by more than 250 delegates, lasting for three days, the gathering was conducted through 12 technical sessions and 2 plenary sessions.

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Originally, the theme of the Forum was to be restricted to 'Flood Management', but wisely, it was decided to widen its perspective to accommodate intensive discussion on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). This shift enabled participants in the technical sessions to focus on diverse essential related sectors like -- a) flood, climate change and disaster management; b) water, food, agriculture and environment; c) water, governance and financing; d) water, poverty and livelihoods; e) water and energy; f) MDGs and targets; g) practices and legal framework and institutions pertaining to IWRM; h) water for peace and trans-boundary water issue; i) water supply and sanitation and j) River Basin Organisations and Area Water Partnerships.

These are complex issues which are inter-related. All of them impact on the lives of nearly 1.4 billion people who live in South Asia. Consequently, analysts in the Forum followed the discussion and dialogue with great interest. This was reflected in the presentation of 75 technical papers, 5 keynote papers, 7 country papers and 15 separate statements.

SAWAF-III has been Track-2 diplomacy at its best. It has been a success for GWP-SAS-RWP Bangladesh Chapter and the team of Organisers. An important international meeting was held in Dhaka without too much of a fuss and very little expenditure.

The meeting quite correctly underlined the fact that we will be able to fight global poverty and protect life forms around us only if we manage our water more equitably and sustainably.

The World Summit in Johannesburg in 2002, recognised that availability of water is central to the achievement of most MDG goals, including, reducing hunger and poverty, improving the environment, ameliorating slum conditions, educating more girl children and decreasing child mortality. This integrated approach has led to the emergence of the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), so essential for water efficiency plans.

Margaret Catley-Carlson, Chair GWP, Stockholm, Sweden has meaningfully pointed out that there is really no ready 'blueprint' for any country or for a region. I agree with her, I also believe that countries need to initiate action at the point where their water challengers exist. They have to subsequently move forward in an integrated manner and try to create a sustainable and suitable paradigm for water management according to needs -- be it flood or drought or desertification. South Asia, appears to have all the problems and also most unfortunately very little political will within its leadership to resolve these issues.

It was against this background that SAWAF-III examined all the ramifications of different situations. There were heated debates, but fortunately, there was the absence of inflexibility and acrimony that usually marks Track-I inter-governmental positions on ways to manage floods, on water for food, on water supply and sanitation and on water governance and investments. Issues were addressed with an open mind and that was important. It took note of the challenges being faced by the region due to population growth, food shortage and the need to increase food production to meet the increasing demand and the necessity to pay due attention to water use efficiency, maintenance of the quality of the environment and protection of nature.

The blend of experience of the participants was best represented in the recommendations that emerged from the Forum :

-- all countries in the region need to ascertain correct figures related to availability of water resources in circulation and to undertake correct assessment of surface water as well as ground water resources for all basins, for incorporation in all future plans;

-- that coastal zones need to be considered as an integral part of freshwater management;

-- that countries in the region should not only look at market mechanism but should also pay attention to social values, historical and cultural practices while preparing IWRM plans;

-- that grassroots level stakeholders need to be appropriately incorporated in all future planning and operation of water management projects. In this regard, very wisely, it was suggested that civil society should be given a monitoring role to ensure transparency;

-- that traditional methods of managing water in developing appropriate technologies and environmental considerations lead to sustainable livelihood that have long term effects on reducing poverty;

-- that there is a strong nexus between floods, droughts and poverty, and as such, steps be taken to map the critical areas for preparation of appropriate strategies to address these concerns;

-- that time has come to associate the private sector in a more meaningful and effective manner;

-- that there were inseparable links between sound sanitation services and safe supply of drinking water. Consequently, there was need to mobilise additional funds for water supply and sanitation programmes particularly for the many mega-cities in South Asia. It was recognised in this context that the private sector could play a pivotal role in this regard.

-- that there was need to improve and make available better flood forecasting information to gain lead-time in tackling the problem for downstream populations, and that this process should also include early warning systems, spatial planning and decision support systems; and

-- that today, there are cost effective technologies for rainwater harvesting and for re-use of city effluents for agriculture, aquaculture and eco-sanitation and that these technologies should be promoted all over the region.

The SAWAF-III meeting has identified new windows of opportunity. The Forum's deliberations have reiterated its role as a facilitator for fostering regional cooperation with regard to river basin management and resolving issues that go beyond the IWRM National Plans of the respective South Asian countries. The SAARC Secretariat needs to carefully follow the thought process of this Group and extend, if possible, institutional support.

South Asia, as I have noted earlier, is a region which has many things to offer. What we now need is political will. We need to take advantage of changed political circumstances and ensure that water instead of becoming a force of discord, becomes a catalyst for peace, understanding and collective prosperity.

Muhammad Zamir is a former Secretary and Ambassador.