Follow World Commission on Dams Guidelines: Prof. Ramaswamy Iyer

Professor Ramaswamy R Iyer, former Water Resources Secretary of the government of India, devoted all his life to India’s civil service. He is also considered as the ‘spirit and man behind India’s Water Resources Policy’ introduced in 1987. He was also part of the high-level Hanumanta Rao Committee on Tehri dam (in 1996-1997) and the Sardar Sarobar project (in 1993-1995).

Professor Iyer says he his a little bit worried about the idea of building high dams in the Himalayas. "This area is earthquake prone and building a quake-resistant dam could cost enormous," he says. And, on the Nepal-India relations, he says every thing will be all right "if there is one example of good and successful cooperation between the two neighbours. Professor Iyer was here last week to participate in a water management meeting. Surendra Phuyal and Hari Thapa of The Kathmandu Post talked on a wide range of issues pertaining to water resources and development with him. Excerpts:

What do you think are the challenges of sharing of water between Nepal and India?

Watersharing should not be a big problem between Nepal and India. There is a problem, say, between India and Bangladesh. Because India is a big country it can use up a lot of water. Then Bangladesh will not get enough. So we must reach some kind of understanding, which we have done in the Ganges Treaty of 1996. As far as Nepal and India are concerned, even if Nepal uses all the water that it wants to it won’t have a significant effect on India. There still will be enough water.

Essentially, between Nepal and India what has been under discussion is hydroelectric power, not so much water sharing. Even projects like Mahakali and Pancheshwor and so on are essentially for producing power and selling power. So there are not really any water sharing agreements, except Mahakali, which has one element of water sharing. I don’t see it as a very difficult issue between Nepal and India.

Do you think India will remain supportive of Nepal’s endeavor to produce and export hydro-electricity?

Definitely. India is very interested in all these projects—Saptakoshi, Pancheshwor, and Karnali. There is already this Mahakali treaty of 1996. If Nepal wants to generate power from its water resources, and sell it to India, India will buy it. It is only a question of settling the details of tariffs and things like that. But within Nepal, there seems to be another point of view: that Nepal should go in for smaller projects. And there is another point: that this area is seismically active belt. So whenever anybody wants to build a project obstacles start surfacing.

Do you agree with the popular belief here that proper utilization of water resources can be the backbone of Nepal’s economy?

All I know is that in Nepal there are two views on this. This is the dominant view. This is what the government feels: that water is to Nepal what oil was to the Middle East, the major source of revenue. But I also know that others like Deepak Gyawali and Ajay Dixit, they have different view. They feel we should go in for smaller projects to meet local requirements.

Because when you undertake a big project, whether it is in India-Nepal context or otherwise or even the purely Indian context, there are too many issues involved in big projects. Our Tehri is now stalled. The Court has not yet given a decision. It is being constructed, but has run into a serious trouble. I am sure that every one of these projects will run into trouble.

How do you view the Koshi and Gandak water Accords reached between Nepal and India in the 50s and 60s?

You see those were the agreements negotiated at that time by both governments. No body forced any agreement on anyone. They were negotiated and signed. May be they are not good agreements, may be they are not in either India’s interest or in Nepal’s interest. Essentially, what has happened in those cases is that subsequently they were amended to take some of Nepal’s concerns into account. Initially, they were signed in a particular way. Both the Koshi agreement and the Gandak agreement were revised.

Nevertheless that particular impression continued that Nepal’s interest had not been taken into account. I don’t agree with the general belief in Nepal that Nepal was cheated in those agreements. What has happened was that both these agreements were inefficiently implemented. They did not produce the benefits they were intended to produce, either for India or for Nepal. You go to Bihar and you can see it all. They were unsuccessful projects.

Unfortunately, they cast a shadow on all subsequent development.

Do you think projects like Koshi high dam and the Pancheshwor high dam can be accomplished, and will they have good impact?

Well, I am a little worried about all these big projects in the Himalayas. Many people say that can be done, there is a strong body of union that it can be done, it is quite safe. First, really I am a little worried about it. Because even Tehri has been subjected to this kind of question. This area is earthquake prone, and quakes can occur any time. Theoretically, you can build a dam to withstand any kind of earthquake—eight in the Richter Scale Nine in the Richter scale. But it will be enormously costly.

But does it mean that we should never attempt for bigger projects?

No the big projects can be done. Suppose you forget the earthquakes, look at it from other points of view. The way out is to follow what the World Commission on Dams says. They have given some procedures, some methods. They have talked about the rights and restrictions of those whose rights are affected, who bears the risk. If you keep that into account, bring them into the picture right from the beginning, that is the way to proceed. So you build a project in a totally people-centered and participatory manner.

What is your reaction on the World Commission on Dams Guidelines? Are countries like China, Nepal and India right in criticizing the report?

I don’t think so. I think it is unwise decision. If you want some of the details can be changed. They have prescribed a certain procedure; you can make changes in that procedure. But the principle of consultation, the principle of people being first, the principle of rights and risks, you can’t question that.

Finally, what do you suggest Nepal’s politicians and policy makers who are bent on going ahead with both big and small projects?

Well, it’s not for me to advise Nepal. All I know is that, if it were India, if I were advising India, I am not saying don’t ever build big projects. All I am saying is that these big projects have a number of major problems. Therefore, keep them as the last resort, consider all the options and all the alternatives available, if you still think that you need a big project, then built them very carefully and according to the principles suggested by the World Commission of Dams. I think that would equally apply for Nepal. That’s what I would say.

Problems of road transport discussed

Post Report

BUTWAL, March 4 (RSS)- Three hundred and thirty seven persons lost their lives from vehicle accidents in Nepal during the past 19 years.

According to the Police Headquarters Vehicle Control Division, there were 1,875 vehicle accidents, which caused 630 crippling injuries, 162 minor injuries and 360 seriously injured cases.

Nepal has 4,178 kilometres of black topped roads, 3, 760 kms gravelled, 5,911 kms fair weather road in which 263,516 number of vehicles of varying capacities and models have been plying.

The country faces, geographical difficulties, irregular river erosion, as well as increasing number of vehicles, lack of proportionate improvement of the city roads, road encroachment, faulty construction and repair and lack of training and research for the manpower.

This was informed at a talk programme on Problems of the Road Transport and Ways of Resolution organised by the Nepal Transport Independent Workers’ Organisation central committee in Butwal, yesterday.

The participants on the occasion pointed out the state of vehicles and the road, road encroachment, institutionalised corruption, lack of skilled manpower and violation of laws and negligence as the causes for accidents.

They stressed on arrangement for licence for operators, repair of roads, arrangement for training and awareness for prevention of road accidents.

They also pointed out competition among entrepreneurs, confused operation, lack of government facilities, unavailability of spare parts and fuel, and unchecked flow of foreign vehicles and confused government policies for problems of the entrepreneurs.

On the occasion, chief justice of the Appellate Court Butwal Dhruba Nath Upadhyay called for serious attention towards the resolution of the transport problems.

Ex-minister Bishnu Poudel said the main reason behind accidents is providing licence for vehicles in a rampant way.

At the programme presided over by central committee member of the Nepal Independent Workers’ Organisation Dharmananda Pant, central secretary Bidur Karki presented a working paper on Road Transport and Problems and Resolutions where as journalist D.R. Ghimire, Prof. Ram Lal Shrestha, and advocate Kamala Gautam commented on the working paper.

Regional coordinator of the Nepal Trade Union Western Region Chudamani Jangali also spoke on accidents and problems.

Prison condition worsens in Salyan

Post Report

SALYAN, March 4 - Anyone who has once visited Salyan jail will not forget it because of its cracked walls, decayed and termite-infested wooden beams and dilapidated building.

The jail premises is stinking inside because of large number of prisoners and lack of water to
clean it.

According to the Jailor, Netra Bahadur Budhathoki, water is brought to the jail by tractor in the months of Chaitra and Baishakh when there is acute shortage.

The jailor admits that serious problems arise when the prisoners fall seriously ill although there is provision for health workers for the inmates.

The jail administration has not been able to repair the jail building for many years and facilities provided by the law are not available to the inmates due to financial constraints, he admitted.

Prisoners say that the government does not pay attention to their demands regarding the improvement in jail condition. The quantity of ration given to them, including rice and cash, is too low to meet their needs.

According to Jailor Budhathoki, the jail administration has also requested the Ministry concerned to fulfil basic needs of the inmates. Currently, the inmates produce dhaka caps, handkerchiefs, sweaters etc. inside the jail to meet their basic needs, but they lack proper market facilities.

Two Maoists killed in cross firing

Post Report

NEPALGUNJ, March 4 - Two Maoist rebels were shot dead today in an exchange of fire between police and the rebels at Malakot of Lalu VDC in Kalikot district, police here said. Two policemen sustained minor injuries during the gun-fight. Police said that about 200 armed rebels attacked the policemen on regular patrol from a nearby jungle.

The site of the incident is located about one day’s trek from Manma, the district headquarters of Kalikot.

According to Deputy Inspector General of Police at the Mid-Western Regional Police Office, Amar Singh Shah, the policemen from the Kotbada-based police station opened fire at the rebels in response to their attack.

Our reporter from Manma said that a police reinforcement was despatched to the clash site by a helicopter immediately after receiving information about the fighting within a distance of 100 metres.

Police suspect that at least eight rebels were also injured in the four hours long gun-battle in the Maoist stronghold.

Meanwhile, a police striking force from Siuna seized on Saturday 12 home-made guns from the cow-shed of Kul Bahadur KC from Mumra VDC-5.

On last Friday, police confiscated 15 home-made guns, one home-made pistol and one socket bomb during a gun-battle with the rebels in Nanikot VDC of the same district.