Unflinching Indian Water Quest Pushing South Asia into War

Unflinching Indian Water Quest Pushing South Asia into War
By Zaheerul Hassan
The world seems standing at the brink of another world war because of failure of emerging weak role of UNO and uni-polar system. The power relations are defining the world as an ‘overruling cleavage’ of the international system. The unfair race of economic growth in terms of capturing natural resources, unequal division of wealth, global wave of organizational and state terrorism, selfish policies of super power, craving smaller sates, current financial global crunch and the collapse of the Soviet Empire are the factors which are accelerating the time so rapidly that destruction of world seem to be very nearer. The dramatic political and strategic changes of Asia related to South Asian region in latter half of the twentieth century has further deteriorated the world peace. The main characters of prevailing insecure environment and regional instability are, India, US, Afghanistan’s puppet government, America, Israel and some of European allies. The capturing of natural resources for enhancing economic growth is basically a power thirst of US and her Police Watch Man (India). According to Indian philosophy wealth obtaining and power seeking are interlinked and two sides of the same coin. The Indian unflinching quest of grabbing natural particularly water resources are seem to be putting devastating effects on her neighbours, Pakistan , Bangladesh and Nepal , thus pushing South Asian Region into war.
Peter H. Gleick at the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment and Security has further confirmed the root causes by identifying the seven categories or types of conflicts as regards to water sources. First, Control of Water Resources: (state and non-state actors): where water supplies or access to water is at the root of tensions. Second, Military Tool (state actors): where water resources or water systems themselves are used by a nation or state, as a weapon during a military action. Third, Political Tool (state and non-state actors): where water resources, or water systems themselves, are used by a nation, state, or non-state actor for a political goal. Fourth, Terrorism (non-state actors): where water resources, or water systems, are either targets or tools of violence or coercion by non-state actors. Fifth, Military Target: (state actors): where water resource systems are direct targets of military actions by nations or states. Sixth, Development Disputes: (state and non-state actors): where water resources or water systems are a major source of contention and last but not the least dispute in the context of economic and social development. But if we apply all these factors now it encircles whole South Asian Region instead of India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. The major cause of prevailing insecure environment is Indian desire of expansionism and grabbing natural resources by using unfair means.
Apart from disputes over international Water of South Asia, the Indo-Pakistan dispute over the Wular Barrage (The Indus Waters Treaty) and Bugliar Dam, Indo-Bangladesh water dispute over the Farakka Barrage (The Ganges Water Treaty) and the Indo-Nepal dispute over the Mahakali River are the glaring ones and endangering to the regional peace. It is notable here that India always used water as tool against Pakistan Nepal and Bangladesh. The Indian rulers exploit this natural resource through blocking the flow of rivers which originate from the Indian controlled territories and claiming their rights of using Nepalese Origin Rivers too.
Indus Basin Water Treaty between India and Pakistan was signed in September 1960 as result of mediation of the World Bank. As per the agreement, waters of three western rivers of Indus, Jhelum and Chenab will be used by Pakistan while India has given rights over eastern rivers of Ravi, Sutlej and Beas. But India has always dishonoured the accord from time to time to create economic crisis in Pakistan. It is worth mentioning here that Indus Basin treaty over distribution of water resources was concluded after 23 years of Pakistani struggle but once again after 23 years or so controversy rose up in 1984 when India violated the laws of the agreement and started construction of Wuler Barrage over River Jhelum without consulting, informing and showing the design to Pakistan. The issue put the two nation’s dagger drawn to each other. Pakistan launched strong protest. India though stopped the construction but after some period again started the work and completed it. According to sub-paragraph 8(h) of the Indus Waters Treaty, India is permitted to construct an ‘incidental storage work’ on Western rivers on its side: only after the design has been scrutinized and approved by Pakistan; admits storage capacity should not exceed 10,000 acres feet of water. Whereas the Wular Barrage’s capacity is 300,000 acres feet, which is thirty times more than the permitted capacity. According to the Treaty, India is only allowed to construct a small hydro plant with a maximum discharge of 300 cusecs through the turbines which are insufficient to generate 960 Megawatts of electricity as planned by India.
In the mid 1990s India started another violation by constructing the Baglihar dam on the Chenab River. Pakistan asked World Bank’s to intervene for stoppage of construction but the Bank allowed India to go ahead with the project after a few minor modifications, yet it did not permit the interruption of the agreed quota of water flow to Pakistan. Indian act to reduce the flow of water is a deliberate violation of the Indus Basin Treaty. Though President Zardari, Prime Minister Gllani has risen the issue with Indian Prime Minster Menmohan Sing but still mater persist due to the inflexible attitude of New Delhi. On October 26 Indus Water Commissioner (IWC) Jamaat Ali Shah while talking to newsmen at New Delhi Air Port prior to his departure to Pakistan showed dissatisfaction over discussion regarding Chenab water with Indian counterpart since two rounds of talks amongst them ended inclusively. He revealed that Pakistan will approach the World Bank again and receive compensation from India for obstructing water flow from the Chenab River and defects in the design of the Baglihar Dam. Prior to construction of Baglihar Dam the flow use to be 55000 cusec daily which decreased at 8000 to 9000 level at Marala Head Works. Indian snatched 200,000 cusec water in the month to September and damaged Pakistani Kharif crops, adding to the miseries of the farmer’s community. Jamaat Ali Shah has also visited the district Dooda of Occupied Kashmir and found several defects in the Baglihar Dam. The implications of constructed dams for Pakistan are , controlling of Rivers Jhelum and Chenab by India which will pose direct and serious threat to Pakistan economy , withhold the water over an extended period, especially during the dry season and thus converting and magnifying the risks of floods and droughts in Pakistan. The Mangla Dam on River Jhelum, which is a source of irrigation and electricity for Punjab, would be adversely affected. India will be having a strategic edge, during a military confrontation, enabling it to control the mobility and recoil of Pakistani troops and enhancing the maneuverability of Indian troops.
Bangladesh has serious conflict over water sharing issues of two prominent rivers Ganges and Brahmaputra which comes out from Himalayan river systems. India violated the norms and treaty through constructing a barrage at Farakka, 18 kilometers upstream from the border resulted into reduced flow of water which caused both immediate and long-term effects including lower agricultural and industrial production, diminution of ground water reserves, affecting soil moisture and its structure. The long-term effects involve changes in the ecology of delta basin, changes in the hydraulic characters of its rivers and reduced navigation depth.
Similarly, India again involved in water Sharing conflict with Nepal too. The Mahakali River is originating in Nepal and flowing into India. 21 Nepalese rivers have a marvelous potential ability to generate 83000 MW electricity through hydro can be exported to neighbours, but lack of funds and technology Nepalese are unable to launch large projects. Indian power deficit in northern India is around 9,500 MW. The shortfall can be completed through construction of power projects over Nepalese rives but Nepalese have some serious reservations over India and very rightly feel that they have not been treated equitably under the various water-resource development agreements with India, including Sarada (1920), 24 Kosi (1954) and Gandak (1959).25
As we all knew that China and the East Asian region are major center of ‘expanded reproduction’ as well as a major center of world money despite the current world financial crises. Washington in collaboration with India is on the policy of capturing oil rich central Asian Regions, containment of China, suppressing Iran , capturing Asian Market to boost her economy and supporting Israel on Palestine Issue . Her Police Man (India) increased the insecurity in the context of state collapse, terrorism, fundamentalisms, humanitarian disasters in South Asia, Regional Water conflicts, economical and finical crises are going to be catastrophe for the people and likelihood of a serious inter-state armed conflict over water resources will be soon. To avoid disaster UNO should interfere and should devise some regional policy of using natural resources. At the same time, there is a need to condemn the Indian nefarious hegemony design to enhance the regional economic growth and prosperity.

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