Inter Basin Water Transfer Link Project of India

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Confce on impact of river-link project ends
India’s unilateral action giving rise to mistrust in region
Staff Correspondent
The Bangladesh Observer
Monday, December 20, 2004

A unilateral action by India in planning projects with trans-boundary implications and lack of her consultation with other co-riparian nations is giving rise to mistrust in the region.

This was the concluding observation of an international conference on Regional “Cooperation on Trans-boundary Rivers---Impact of Indian River Linking Project,” jointly organised by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, Bangladesh Environment Network and other NGOs and academic institutions, held in the city.

The three-day conference attended by water and environment scholars and activists from across the globe came out with nine recommendations. The recommendation said there lies a large potential for cooperation in using the water resources of the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna basins to positively influence the life of 630 million citizen of this region.

The conference expressed deep concern that a commitment by India to make information available to the members of public depicting various aspects of the river linking project has been violated.

 “A complete secrecy is being maintained and there has been no public disclosure on the details of the components (of the project),” reads the recommendation paper.

It says that preliminary information available from experts from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, USA and other countries lead the conclusion that that links under the Himalayan River component will have serious impacts on the overall environment and lives of Bangladesh.

The recommendations are:

1. Water-centered and water-based cooperation is the way for realizing the large benefits from the Ganges-Brahmaputra Meghna (GBM) trans-boundary river systems.

2. All the common basin governments should recognise the potentialities of large benefits to be derived from the GBM river systems and would announce their commitment to collaborate on basin-wide management of the trans-boundary rivers for mutual benefits, in accordance with the principles of equity and no harm to any party.

3. Access to data and information regarding any intervention in any trans-boundary river by any country should be ensured to all regional countries sharing common rivers.

4. As far as Indian River Linking Project is concerned, a complete transparency within and across countries should be ensured so as to dispel mistrust and concerns.

5. The civil societies of the GBM regional countries should continue to work to clarify issues and assist each other in the process of decision making by the regional governments.

6. The trans-boundary rivers should be managed from the "Mountain Top to the Sea."

7. Water resources of all trans-boundary rivers should be recognized as common national resources of all co-riparian countries and hence, regional co-operation is necessary for proper management of all trans-boundary rivers,

8. The countries carry out a thorough review of the current approaches of the already implemented projects that have interrupted rivers. 9. The countries of the South Asia are urged to emphasize Ecological Approach to river management.

Source: The Bangladesh Observer

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