Regional cooperation in water management
VISION for 2021, the water challenges and regional cooperation Bangladesh Vision for 2021 aims at self-sufficiency in food production by 2012, increase of electricity supply to 7,000 MW in 2013, 8,000 MW by 2015 and 20,000 MW by 2021, annual economic growth of 8% by 2013 and 10% by 2017, and reduction of poverty level from 45% to 15% by 2021.
Fulfillment of these aspirations is possible although difficult, but appears impossible without addressing the water challenges. The challenges are: (a) ensuring mitigation of the damages and losses occurring from flood, drought, river erosion, salinity intrusion, effects of climate change; and, (b) sustainable development of available water resources.
To mitigate or reduce the damages and losses mentioned in (a) on a sustainable basis, intervention in the upstream is essential (Bangladesh does not have that possibility). For sustainable development of available water resources, accord on our share of the trans-boundary rivers is necessary. So, regional cooperation of the co-riparian countries is crucial for Bangladesh to address its water challenges.
Upstream intervention (like reservoirs) in addressing the water challenges (flood moderation, irrigation expansion, navigation etc.) may also provide hydropower generation. The hydropower potential of the countries in the Eastern Himalayan region is vast. Nepal's techno-economically feasible hydropower potential is estimated at about 42,000 MW, India's is 34,000 MW and Bhutan's is 20,000 MW.
With regional cooperation, Bangladesh may meet its long-term energy requirement, especially since the gas and coal reserves may not meet the demand beyond 2030. Mention may be made of the Sapta Koshi Project, which may be extremely important for Bangladesh towards augmentation of the Ganges flow and availability of electricity for us.
One may recall that -- because of the imperativeness of regional cooperation for mutual benefit -- many regional and international water treaties are in existence in different parts of the world, like the Nile Basin Agreement, the Mekong River Forum, many bilateral and multi-lateral agreements among the co-riparian countries on the Rhine, Danube, Meuse in Europe and Mississippi in the US. Water treaties exist between Pakistan and India also.
At international level, the regional cooperation concept is gaining momentum, especially in the context of facing the challenges of climate change. The Ministerial Declaration of the World Water Forum in Istanbul (2009) declared to "support the implementation of integrated water resources management at the river-basin level (Para 2)," "improve and promote cooperation on sustainable use and protection of trans-boundary water resources to address the impact of global climate changes (Para 16) and to scale up "investment efforts to establish necessary infrastructure, to increase storage and ….. (Para 9)."
For meaningful cooperation
Any meaningful cooperation should meet a few essential conditions, such as: (a) a win-win situation, (b) institutional arrangements, (c) enabling environment. Win-win situation
Cooperation takes place when there is benefit for all the parties from such cooperation, direct or indirect, and there exists a win-win situation. Pious wishes are not enough. However, such benefits may differ in scale for different countries; at the same time, such cooperation, in addition to the envisaged benefits, may facilitate a broader economic regional co-operation. There are many examples of bilateral and regional cooperation in water management at regional and international levels that were driven by mutual interest and respect for other's need. Institutional arrangements
There is a long-standing institutional arrangement between Bangladesh and India -- the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission (JRC), headed by the ministers of water resources of Bangladesh and India, which was established in 1972 in New Delhi. It facilitated the Ganges Treaty in 1996 and the treaties in 1975 and 1978. However, the efficiency and effectiveness of this Commission largely -- in fact, solely -- depend on the political will of the participating governments. This institutional arrangement may be further strengthened and expanded, if it is considered necessary. Enabling environment
An enabling environment, both at country level and at international level, is an extremely important factor for the sustainability of effective regional co-operation. There are a number of initiatives in this respect. The Abu Dhabi Dialogue initiated in 2006, which includes Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan and China, is one for facilitating regional cooperation in water management in the Himayalan region. An enabling environment at the international level can only facilitate, but not make, agreements. Prevalence of an enabling environment at the country level is absolutely necessary as an indispensable requisite for any cooperation. In this case, the role of the government and political quarters (political will) is essential. Such a role will include: -Mutual respect for each other's legitimate rights; -Mutual understanding of each other's needs; -Mutual trust on commitments; -Implementation of commitments; -Refraining from confusing statements and actions. Mutual appreciation of each other's limitations and difficulties is crucial for any understanding and cooperation. For example, during the dry season, both Bangladesh and India run short of water. While the many distributaries of the Ganges in Bangladesh dry out due to lack of water and there is a hue and cry, various states in India like West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh compete with each other to extract water from the Ganges. We sometimes read in newspaper about water-riots in India. Civil society, engineering and other forums, non-governmental organisations, researchers -- in what had earlier been called the Track-2 initiative -- can play an important role in raising public awareness about the need for, and the right perspective of, regional cooperation, and thereby promote and maintain a congenial environment for co-operation. Use of regional water issue(s) for political expediency can neither bring improvement nor foster an enabling environment for sustainable cooperation -- the ultimate sufferer being the country. Way forward
What is the way forward? The answer is not easy. Any answer can raise serious debates. Anyway, one can confidently refer to the "Spirit Leading To Ganges Treaty" and the "Principles of Farakka Agreement," which have been enunciated in the Treaty on Sharing of The Ganga/Ganges Waters at Farakka in December 1996. Those are as follows: "Spirit Leading To Ganges Treaty" are: -Promoting and strengthening friendship and good neighbourliness; -Promoting well-being of their peoples; -Sharing the waters of international rivers by mutual agreement; -Finding a fair and just solution without affecting the rights and entitlements of either country. "Principles of Farakka Agreement" are: -Equity; -Fairness; -No harm to either party. Right or wrong, one may raise a debate on the outcome of the Ganges Treaty about the water quantities shared by the two countries, but there may hardly be any debate on Article-IX of the Agreement, which says: "Guided by the principles of equity, fairness and no harm to either party, both the governments agree to conclude water sharing Treaties/Agreements with regard to other common rivers." This is bilaterally agreed. Perusing this Article, the spirit of the Farakka Treaty and the principles laid down there can be the starting point of our pathway for future regional cooperation in an enabling environment and with mutual respect for each other's needs. Conclusion
In conclusion, it may again be mentioned that Pakistan and India have fought a number of wars; nevertheless, they can negotiate and reach agreements on water sharing. Why we shall not be able to reach agreements? Of course, we can achieve what people have achieved in other regions of the world -- if there is the required political will and the required effort. This is applicable for all countries of the region.
Any meaningful cooperation should meet a few essential conditions, such as: (a) a win-win situation, (b) institutional arrangements, (c) enabling environment. Win-win situation
Cooperation takes place when there is benefit for all the parties from such cooperation, direct or indirect, and there exists a win-win situation. Pious wishes are not enough. However, such benefits may differ in scale for different countries; at the same time, such cooperation, in addition to the envisaged benefits, may facilitate a broader economic regional co-operation. There are many examples of bilateral and regional cooperation in water management at regional and international levels that were driven by mutual interest and respect for other's need. Institutional arrangements
There is a long-standing institutional arrangement between Bangladesh and India -- the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission (JRC), headed by the ministers of water resources of Bangladesh and India, which was established in 1972 in New Delhi. It facilitated the Ganges Treaty in 1996 and the treaties in 1975 and 1978. However, the efficiency and effectiveness of this Commission largely -- in fact, solely -- depend on the political will of the participating governments. This institutional arrangement may be further strengthened and expanded, if it is considered necessary. Enabling environment
An enabling environment, both at country level and at international level, is an extremely important factor for the sustainability of effective regional co-operation. There are a number of initiatives in this respect. The Abu Dhabi Dialogue initiated in 2006, which includes Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan and China, is one for facilitating regional cooperation in water management in the Himayalan region. An enabling environment at the international level can only facilitate, but not make, agreements. Prevalence of an enabling environment at the country level is absolutely necessary as an indispensable requisite for any cooperation. In this case, the role of the government and political quarters (political will) is essential. Such a role will include: -Mutual respect for each other's legitimate rights; -Mutual understanding of each other's needs; -Mutual trust on commitments; -Implementation of commitments; -Refraining from confusing statements and actions. Mutual appreciation of each other's limitations and difficulties is crucial for any understanding and cooperation. For example, during the dry season, both Bangladesh and India run short of water. While the many distributaries of the Ganges in Bangladesh dry out due to lack of water and there is a hue and cry, various states in India like West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh compete with each other to extract water from the Ganges. We sometimes read in newspaper about water-riots in India. Civil society, engineering and other forums, non-governmental organisations, researchers -- in what had earlier been called the Track-2 initiative -- can play an important role in raising public awareness about the need for, and the right perspective of, regional cooperation, and thereby promote and maintain a congenial environment for co-operation. Use of regional water issue(s) for political expediency can neither bring improvement nor foster an enabling environment for sustainable cooperation -- the ultimate sufferer being the country. Way forward
What is the way forward? The answer is not easy. Any answer can raise serious debates. Anyway, one can confidently refer to the "Spirit Leading To Ganges Treaty" and the "Principles of Farakka Agreement," which have been enunciated in the Treaty on Sharing of The Ganga/Ganges Waters at Farakka in December 1996. Those are as follows: "Spirit Leading To Ganges Treaty" are: -Promoting and strengthening friendship and good neighbourliness; -Promoting well-being of their peoples; -Sharing the waters of international rivers by mutual agreement; -Finding a fair and just solution without affecting the rights and entitlements of either country. "Principles of Farakka Agreement" are: -Equity; -Fairness; -No harm to either party. Right or wrong, one may raise a debate on the outcome of the Ganges Treaty about the water quantities shared by the two countries, but there may hardly be any debate on Article-IX of the Agreement, which says: "Guided by the principles of equity, fairness and no harm to either party, both the governments agree to conclude water sharing Treaties/Agreements with regard to other common rivers." This is bilaterally agreed. Perusing this Article, the spirit of the Farakka Treaty and the principles laid down there can be the starting point of our pathway for future regional cooperation in an enabling environment and with mutual respect for each other's needs. Conclusion
In conclusion, it may again be mentioned that Pakistan and India have fought a number of wars; nevertheless, they can negotiate and reach agreements on water sharing. Why we shall not be able to reach agreements? Of course, we can achieve what people have achieved in other regions of the world -- if there is the required political will and the required effort. This is applicable for all countries of the region.
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