“The wars of the next century will be about water" World Bank vice-president Ismail Serageldin(quoted in New York Times, 10 August 1995).

“Fierce competition for fresh water may well become a source of conflict and wars in the future.”Kofi Annan, March 2001

WATER- A MAJOR CONCERN

● Most of the world’s water—about 97.5 percent—exists as salt water in the oceans and seas.

● Of the world’s 2.5 percent of freshwater, roughly 99 percent is either trapped in glaciers and ice caps, held as soil moisture, or located in water tables too deep to access.

● Thus, only about one percent of the world’s total freshwater supply is readily available for consumption by humans, animals and for irrigation.

● Water security is emerging as an increasingly important

● Population growth continues to surge, the demand for water is increasing substantially, without a concomitant increase in water resources

● In South Asia, conflict over freshwater has strained relations between India and Bangladesh, as well as India and Pakistan.

INDUS RIVER BASIN

CAUVERY RIVER

Contending Water Uses

THE POTENTIAL CAUSES

Contending Water Uses:

■ Water is a common pool resource

■ Contention between different kinds of uses

■ The issue is one of rapidly decreasing water supply amidst a growing number of users who require larger quantities with every passing year

■ Case of Keoladeo National Park,

■ Case of Vadali village of Gujarat and

■ The Majuli island case.

Contending Water Uses

Population Growth and Demand

THE POTENTIAL CAUSES

Population Growth and Demand

♦ Growing population and changing values have increased pressure on existing water supplies

♦ Urban needs often conflict with agricultural needs, as well as with increased demand for water for endangered species, recreation, and scenic enjoyment

♦ Conflict in the Bhavani

♦ The Palkhed canal system of upper Godavari project

Pollution

Contending Water Uses:

Population Growth and Demand

THE POTENTIAL CAUSES

Pollution

Almost 70% of its surface water resources A growing number of its groundwater reserves are already

contaminated by biological, toxic organic and inorganic pollutants

Unsafe for human consumption as well as for other activities such as irrigation and industrial needs.

♦ Kolleru wildlife sanctuary

♦ The case of khari river

Pollution

Micro level dispute

Contending Water Uses:

Population Growth and Demand

THE POTENTIAL CAUSES

MICRO LEVEL DISPUTE

Conflicts on a truly micro scale – within a village, a community or around a small tank

Monitoring failure at Kanpur

Shapin River Basin in Jharkhand

Pollution

Micro level dispute

Contending Water Uses:

Population Growth and Demand

THE POTENTIAL CAUSES

Dams and Displacement

DAMS AND DISPLACEMENT India is the third largest dam builder country in the world. It now

has over 3600 large dams and over 700 more under construction.

The displacement caused by large scale irrigation and hydro-

projects

Displacement and resettlement of people is the least concern of

large dam builders

Sardar Sarovar Dam

Haripad Project In Madhya Pradesh

Tehri Dam

Pollution

Micro level dispute

Contending Water Uses:

Population Growth and Demand

THE POTENTIAL CAUSES

Dams and Displacement

Transboundary dispute

TRANSBOUNDARY DISPUTE

Disputes over shared water resources have a long history

Inter-state and inter-country dispute

Access to water has been a source of dispute and contention

– Baglihar hydropower project (BHP)

– Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal

Pollution

Micro level dispute

Contending Water Uses:

Population Growth and Demand

THE POTENTIAL CAUSES

Dams and Displacement

Transboundary dispute

Privatisation

PRIVATISATION

Inviting private sector participation in dam and reservoir projects

Opposition to the idea of `privatisation of water'

Privatisation poses a threat to that commitment because once privatised, water will no longer be provided on the basis of need but on the ability to pay

LESSONS LEARNED:

• Water crossing international boundaries can cause tensions between nations that share the basin. While the tension is not likely to lead to warfare, early coordination between riparian states can help ameliorate the issue.

• A gradual decrease in water quantity or quality, or both, is more likely than violent conflict. Over time, such water decreases can affect the internal stability of a nation or region, and act as an irritant among ethnic groups, water sectors, or states/provinces. The resulting instability may have effects in the international arena.

• The greatest threat of the global water crisis to human security comes from the fact that millions of people lack access to sufficient quantities of water of sufficient quality for their well-being.

“But the water problems of our world need not be only a cause of tension; they can also be a catalystfor cooperation…If we work together, a secure and sustainable water future can be ours.”Kofi Annan, February 2002

CONCLUSIONS:

1. An institutional framework for joint management and dispute resolution

2. Early intervention is also beneficial to the process of conflict resolution

3. Water disputes can be resolved through active dialog among disciplines.

RICHA RAI(ROLL-39)

SHUBHA(ROLL-49)