River is a very complex subject. Let me talk in brief. Indus Water Treaty as prepare by World Bank and ratified by both country India and Pakistan, has many wisdom and many shortcoming.  Being involved in executing few hydroelectric projects in J&k and naturally to deal with both Indian Indus Commission and Pakistan Indus Commission,  realised that some vagueness and weakness has rather helped to take share of water though with prolonged fight in World Bank dispute resolution process and also through International Court Geneva. Being a downstream and intermediate stream country for major tributaries we have some disadvantages. Whatever it may be I do not think a better treaty is possible at today. Regarding India China common river on which worked again due to some natural disaster and planning for project, do not want to comment, Regarding Nepal and Bhutan issues are different. I will only like to state that International river disputes resolution and sharing has been only successful where the countries have already taken their major shares by some means. It is more a regularising the uses. Large quantity of hydrological and meteorological date for say  50 years continuously are an important ingredient. First of all why do we not start solving the interstate dispute on rivers in our country, develop some expertise and then look internationally?

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River is a very complex subject. Let me talk in brief.

Indus Water Treaty as prepare by World Bank and ratified by both country India and Pakistan, has many wisdom and many shortcoming.  Being involved in executing few hydroelectric projects in J&k and naturally to deal with both Indian Indus Commission and Pakistan Indus Commission,  realised that some vagueness and weakness has rather helped to take share of water though with prolonged fight in World Bank dispute resolution process and also through International Court Geneva. Being a downstream and intermediate stream country for major tributaries we have some disadvantages. Whatever it may be I do not think a better treaty is possible at today.

Regarding India China common river on which worked again due to some natural disaster and planning for project, do not want to comment,

Regarding Nepal and Bhutan issues are different.

I will only like to state that International river disputes resolution and sharing has been only successful where the countries have already taken their major shares by some means. It is more a regularising the uses. Large quantity of hydrological and meteorological date for say  50 years continuously are an important ingredient.

First of all why do we not start solving the interstate dispute on rivers in our country, develop some expertise and then look internationally?

 

1 Comment

I agree that rivers are a complex subject and need nuanced solutions but the less we talk about it in South Asia the more detrimental it is in the long run for India and the region. We cannot solve our internal disputes in isolation, it cannot be one or the other, both can be done in parallel. I don't agree that a better treaty is not possible from a scientific perspective, though from a political one you are likely to be right. Lastly, I have studied many treaties and agreements around the world and travelled around several basins and disagree that it is only about use. There are many factors at play. Happy to offer my expertise and knowledge gained from this for any project you have going forward if of interest. Cheers. 

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