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BOOK REVIEW |
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BOOK REVIEW |
On Water Disputes The book highlights what
are the basis and areas of disputes over the Ganga By A CORRESSPONDENT "The Ganga traverses over 2,500
kilometers through China (Tibet), Nepal, India and Bangladesh, and sustains over half a
billion people. With one-eighth of the world's population dependent on the river, over 40
percent of them living in poverty, it is but natural that the Ganga is under stress,"
writes S. B. Pun, former managing director of Nepal Electricity Authority, in his article
Overview: Conflicts over the Ganga in the book titled "Dispute Over Ganga."
"Researchers forecast that by 2025 India's Gangetic bread basket will experience
severe water scarcity." Pun's writing show how important river
Ganga is in the region. "While no one predicts a war in the near future, there is
little doubt that tempers will flare up as the population increases in a South Asia that
is one of the most densely populated on the planet. Already there are many divisive issues
that pit rural farmers against the urban elite, Indian state, and country against
country," declares the Preface of the book. As the population is increasing, the demand
of water for consumption and agriculture purpose, too, is increasing. To protect the
population from floods, many modern infrastructures have already been built. The water of
River Ganga, which is still regarded as sacred by the Hindu population of Nepal and India,
is gradually turning as a source of conflicts. It seems that the conflict over water is
gradually appearing in the scene. Nepal, China, India and Bangladesh are four countries
associated with Ganga river. Originated in the high Himalayas of Nepal-China border and
India, the tributaries of Ganga passes to the low land of India and Nepal before reaching
to Bangladesh. Ganga, thus, is a lifeline of population of
three countries Nepal, India and Bangladesh before it enters into Bay of Bengal. Although
most of snow-fed rivers originate in Tibetan Autonomous region, there are no inhabitants
on that part to share the water. Countries of the region face two kinds of
conflict on the Ganga river. During the dry season, there are always low volumes of water
so there is a question of sharing the water. As soon as monsoon begins, the whole dispute
shifts to flood and overflowing of water. Thanks to the heavy rain in Nepal, the northern
Bihar has flood every year. "North Bihar has very fertile soil and
it can feed the country but rivers originating in Nepal flood it every year. Thank to the
Biharis' patience, or there would have been bloodshed over water," said Minister for
Railways Laloo Prasad Yadav in his interview to India Today in May 26, 2003. Although Nepal's rivers have nothing to do
with the flood in Bihar, it shows the misconception about Nepal's river system. In Nepal
too, people are facing many difficulties from the embankments built on the Indian side.
At the end point, Bangladeshis, too, have similar complaint about India. People in
Bangladesh hold the Indians accountable for dwindling Ganga water that is unable to meet
all their water needs during the dry season. "These grievances, often based on
misperception and even ignorance, are regularly exaggerated by media that thrives on
sensationalism and politicians seeking to capitalize on the emotional appeal rivers have
on people in South Asia," reveals the Preface. Based on the seven articles written by the
experts of the region, the book tries to highlight what the river Ganga is all about and
its relations with the life of people and region as a whole. Santa Bahadur Pun, former managing director
of Nepal Electricity Authority, Mostafa Kamal Majumdar (Bangladesh), Bidisha Mallik and
Jyanta Bandopadhyaya (India), Dinesh Mishra (India), Gopal Krishna (India), Sudhirendar
Sharma (Nepal) and Ajaya Dixit, Pradeep Adhikari, Rakshya Rajyshwori Thapa (Nepal) have
written articles on different aspects of Ganga river in the book. "The Ganga, which acts as the master
drain for most of the state, flows in an easterly directions and stretches 432 kilometers
across Bihar, bisecting the state. The flood of Ganga incurs heavy damage in north Bihar
but it is a life line of the state," said Dinesh Mishra. The river is important all over the world.
"The Ganga basin is among the world's largest as well as the most populous river
basins. However, this distinction only reflects more problems along the waters of the
Ganga," writes Sudhirendar Sharma in his article Delhi: Demanding More from the
Ganga. Disputes Over Ganga |
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