Qaisar Mansoor
“Thousands have lived without love, not one without water”.
W.H. Auden
Vision of Auden is especially relevant in the context of South Asia, which houses more than one fifth of the world’s population and where the economies are largely dependent upon agriculture. Unfortunately, South Asian countries, particularly India and Pakistan, have both faced challenges in water management and proper river basin management. The consequence of this has been a severe water crisis further diminishing both ground and surface water. A cursory glance at the data on fresh water availability per person, per year reveals this vulnerability. South Asia’s renewable freshwater resources are about 1,200 cubic meters per capita in comparison to other developed countries with figure of 2,500- 15,000 cubic meters per capita. Even some states like Canada and Norway enjoy the luxurious quota of over 70,000 cubic meters per capita.
March 22 marks as the 29th annual World Water Day. This year’s focus is ground water, which provides fresh water to much of the world. South Asia’s renewable fresh water resources are about 1,200 cubic meters per capita in comparison to other developed countries with figure of 2,500- 15,000 cubic meters per capita.
The partition of sub-continent has also created a continuous rift over the plentiful water of the Indus basin. The system of rivers in the Indus basin comprises 2,000 miles of river Indus with its five tributaries flowing from East- Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, with an aggregate length of 2,800 miles. Most of the upper reaches of the Indus basin lies in India.
All these rivers combine in Mithan Kot in Pakistan and finally merge into the Arabian Sea near Karachi. Pakistan and India share water of six rivers under the Indus Water Treaty. Under the agreement, the waters of the Eastern rivers — the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi have been allocated to India, while Pakistan has been given control over the three Western rivers the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. A parliamentary panel in India has recommended to Prime Minister Modi to renegotiate the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and make its ‘claims’ on the share of water flowing into Pakistan from Western rivers.
It seems to be another ploy by the Indian side to resort to water terrorism in the region. Pakistan is a serious victim of water scarcity. India is creating deliberate water shortages for Pakistan under the underlying aim of harming Pakistan.
Historically, India has been trying to establish its hegemony in the region by controlling water resources and damaging agricultural economies of its neighbouring states. India has water disputes with Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Critics in Bangladesh feel that Farraka Barrage, which was initiated in 1974 as a trial run, has been wickedly manipulated by India in her own favour.
They strongly feel that the Southwestern region of Bangladesh is being critically affected by the hegemony of India allowing limited water from Ganges to Bangladesh. The hydro terrorism by India is adversely affecting Bangladesh’s agriculture, farming, fishing thereby crippling her economy. Since, disruption or contamination of water supplies amounts to water terrorism, it will not be wrong to call India a Water Terrorist. Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal are facing serious difficulties in the agricultural and power sector because of a water grabber India.
India is using water as an instrument of war, converting grain producing land of neighboring countries into deserts through inundation and trickling of water. Indian strategy to use potent weapon against Pakistan is very lethal and two pronged.
Firstly, it is accumulating water by building dams on the rivers that flow into Pakistan.
Secondly, it diverts river-courses during monsoons to release too much water towards Pakistan causing floods and destruction. India has constructed 4 large and 16 small dams on River Jhelum, a total of 62 dams are to be built on the rivers Chenab and Jhelum. India is also constructing a large dam in Kargil on River Indus which will block 45% flow of water to Pakistan. Violation of Indus Basin Treaty is in line with India’s national policy of backtracking from its pledges and breaking international agreements and defying the UN. India intends to complete its water denial plan to Pakistan as soon as possible, after which Pakistan will get deprived of its legitimate share of water. Jeff Nesbit, author and Executive Director of Non-profit Climate Communication Organization ‘Climate Nexus’ said, “Any country with nuclear weapons, if they’re backed into a corner because they have no water — that’s really dangerous.”
