WATER CONFLICTS

1. WATER CONFLICTS

2. “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

3. 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.

4. KHARI RIVER CAUVERY DISPUTE NARMADA(SARDAR SAROVAR) TEHRI INDUS RIVER BASIN RAVI-BEAS PROJECT

5. INDUS RIVER BASIN CAUVERY RIVER

6. THE POTENTIAL CAUSES Contending Water Uses

7. 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.

8. THE POTENTIAL CAUSES Contending Water Uses Population Growth and Demand

9. 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

10. THE POTENTIAL CAUSES Contending Water Uses: Population Growth and Demand Pollution

11. 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

12. THE POTENTIAL CAUSES Contending Water Uses: Population Growth and Demand Pollution Micro level dispute

13. 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

14. THE POTENTIAL CAUSES Contending Water Uses: Population Growth and Demand Pollution Micro level dispute Dams and Displacement

15. 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

16. THE POTENTIAL CAUSES Contending Water Uses: Population Growth and Demand Pollution Micro level dispute Dams and Displacement Transboundary dispute

17. 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

18. THE POTENTIAL CAUSES Contending Water Uses: Population Growth and Demand Pollution Micro level dispute Dams and Displacement Transboundary dispute Privatisation

19. 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

20. 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.

21. CONCLUSIONS: • An institutional framework for joint management and dispute resolution • Early intervention is also beneficial to the process of conflict resolution • Water disputes can be resolved through active dialog among disciplines. “But the water problems of our world need not be only a cause of tension; they can also be a catalyst for cooperation…If we work together, a secure and sustainable water future can be ours.” Kofi Annan, February 2002

22. THANK YOU RICHA RAI(ROLL-39) SHUBHA(ROLL-49)