Now we get 39 per cent share of the Teesta water and we are demanding 50-50 splite, while Paschimbanga Chief Minister Mamata Banarjee wants to give us only 25 per cent. It is not only embarrassing but insulting writes Asif reza Akash
Considering its geographic, topographic, demographic and socio-economic characteristics Bangladesh is regarded as one of the most vulnerable countries in the world. The affects of climate change, sea level rise, enhanced monsoon precipitation, water crisis, power shortage, higher temperature are already impeding its development. Weighing the magnitude of the problems, water crisis and insecurity is the most important issue for the country now and is likely to remain in future. Bangladesh will face severe challenges in the coming decades, if it does not address this issue immediately. Bangladesh is called the land of rivers and canals. Most of the principal rivers, which originate in the Himalayan Mountains, flow into Bangladesh through other countries (India, China, Nepal, Tibet) and end up in the Bay of Bengal. As Bangladesh is surrounded by India on three sides, naturally there are some disputes about sharing of water of trans-boundary rivers. Although Bangladesh has 54 major trans-boundary rivers with India, there is only one 'ambiguous' water sharing treaty on the Ganges river signed on December 12, 1996, from which India has removed the guarantee and arbitration clause of minimum water.
River water is a divine gift. Human life is completely dependent on water and access to the natural resource cannot be restricted. In Western Europe and North America, countries do not share the water rather they utilise it and take care of trans-boundary rivers on the basis of mutual agreements. But in the Sub-continent, there is hardly any amiable understanding reached with India in the 40 years after Independence of Bangladesh. Meanwhile, India is taking advantage of the situation and utilising a big share of the water in breach of laws on international rivers. As Bangladesh has many trans-boundary rivers with India and India is the upper riparian country it obviously has certain advantages. India has constructed about 35 water diversion projects on the upper Ganges to divert water to other places in India in the name of extending irrigation facility before the flow of water reaches Farakka in India. For this reason the downstream of River Padma carry less amount of water into Bangladesh, which is adversely affecting the agriculture sector. Recently, India has planned to construct several dams in major international rivers to divert water inland without any negotiation with Bangladesh.
More recently the Indian government has drastically changed the flow of trans-boundary rivers by constructing embankments on Muhuri river in Tripura. Tipaimukh Dam is another threat to Bangladesh. The proposed Tipaimukh project on the trans-boundary Barak river in Manipur State of India will have adverse impact in the flow of Surma and Kushiara rivers, which are the principal source of the once mighty Meghna river. The consequence of Tipaimukh Dam will be so destructive that the Sylhet- Sunamganj area will turn arid and agriculture in the area will be seriously damaged. Former UN water expert and visiting faculty of BRAC University told a seminar that the water dispute with India is as old as the partition of the Sub-continent, and if India goes ahead with Tipaimukh project, the downstream of Meghna river will lose its water flow and the country will gradually turn into a desert amid acute water crisis.
The Teesta water sharing issue has recently added a new dimension to the old dispute. During the dry season, especially from September to March, Bangladesh requires the Teesta water for irrigation. So, there is an urgent need for an agreement on Teesta water sharing with India, although, during the dry season, flow of the Teesta goes down to somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 cusecs, while the demand for water by Bangladesh and India are 8,000 cusecs and 21,000 cusecs respectively. Now we get 39 per cent share of the Teesta water and we are demanding 50-50 splite, while Paschimbanga Chief Minister Mamata Banarjee wants to give us 25 per cent. It is not only embarrassing but insulting. According to water experts, the whole world is seriously concerned about conserving its water resources for water security, whereas, Bangladesh is destroying its surface and underground water, without thinking about its long term adverse impact.
A recent report titled: "The Himalayan challenge: Water security in Emerging Asia" says, "A decrease in water supply by up to 22 per cent in next two decades, rise in sea level and increase in population might push Bangladesh to the risks of food insecurity, outbreak of water-borne diseases and loss of biodiversity. Water availability on per capita cubic metre basis is estimated to decline from 2150 at present to 1860 in 2030 in case of China, from 1730 to 1240 in case of India, from 7320 to 5700 in case of Bangladesh, and from 8500 to 5500 in case of Nepal." India should also consider the ground reality in Bangladesh. They expect to secure transit facilities from us giving us nothing in return. It is not a good idea. Only logical sharing of water and transparency in inter-state relations between Bangladesh and India will lead to mutual understanding. Who knows World War III may be fought over water in the coming century.
No comments:
Post a Comment