Integrated basin management for the Ganges: challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Integrated river basin management (IRBM) emphasizes the need for managing the river as a system irrespective of administrative boundaries. Although IRBM is being adopted for many trans-boundary rivers, progress can be slow, particularly where there is a history of dispute. The Ganges basin in South Asia is one such case that experienced numerous conflicts over water between the riparian states, notably between India and Bangladesh. The power imbalance between states, mistrust and antagonism, prevailing national interest over the regional benefit, and most importantly lack of an effective institutional mechanism contributed to the complexity of implementing IRBM in the Ganges context. Despite these challenges, there is a consensus about the significant benefits that could be gained through multilateral regional cooperation over water. This paper analyses the challenges of multilateral cooperation towards IRBM in the Ganges context and examines the scope for overcoming these challenges. The paper argues that IRBM in the Ganges context depends on cooperation towards a basin-wide management approach, and a basin organization is a prerequisite to that. It suggests creation of a basin organization in the Ganges context by sharing experiences from other parts of the world and concludes with a framework for adopting IRBM in the Ganges basin.

Keywords:

• Integrated river basin management
• transboundary rivers
• the Ganges basin
• cooperation
• basin-wide planning and basin organization

Acknowledgements

This research is derived from the first author's PhD work ‘Integrated River Basin Management for the Ganges: Lessons from the Murray-Darling and Mekong River basins (A Bangladesh Perspective)’ undertaken within the Discipline of Geographical and Environmental Studies, The University of Adelaide, Australia.

Notes

The Dublin Statement (1992) principles: (1) Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource, essential to sustain life, development and the environment; (2) Water development and management should be based on a participatory approach, involving users, planners and policy-makers at all levels; (3) Women play a central part in the provision, management and safeguarding of water; (4) Water has an economic value in all its competing uses and should be recognized as an economic good (United Nations 1992).

Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest in the world and a World Heritage Site.

The Hardinge Bridge is the first measuring point of the Ganges flow within Bangladesh.

Available data on the rate of deforestation in Nepal is conflicting. However, according to the recent surveys about 245 of the forest area in Nepal has been decreased in just 15 years from 1979 to 1994 and deforestation is continuing at an annual rate of 1.7% (Gautam et al. 2004).

The view that deforestation is a cause of sediment discharge and flooding in the downstream Ganges is challenged by others (Hamilton 1987, Ives 1989).

India follows the Principle of Territorial Integrity in dealing with water issues with Nepal whereas with Bangladesh they follow the Principle of Absolute Territorial Sovereignty.

The SAARC was created in 1985 by: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Recently, Afghanistan became the eighth member while China along with European Union, Japan and South Korea gained observer status at the 14th SAARC Summit in April 2007. At this summit China expressed its willingness to establish a cooperation mechanism with the regional forum in South Asia.