River basins of promise

WATERS OF HOPE - From Vision to Reality in Himalaya - Ganga Development Cooperation: B. G. Verghese; Oxford and IBH Publishing Company Ltd., 66, Janpath, New Delhi-110001. Rs. 495.

THE BOOK under review has analysed various aspects of water and energy potential and development of the Ganga, Brahmaputra and the Barak basins (GBB). The author, an eminent journalist, who has varied experience, has clearly and emphatically presented the need for coordination and cooperation of the basin states, namely India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and China/Tibet for the better livelihood of their citizens. He has narrated the history of the basin, agrarian reforms, irrigation factor, water management, flood, conservation, energy, displacement of persons, dam safety, health, fish culture, inland waterways, cooperation and finally ``waters of hope'', and ``from vision to reality'' for the basin, in 19 chapters along with numerous references.

The region described in the book has rich natural resources, but its people remain poor. To quote the author, ``the glaring contradiction of the largest concentration of the world's most poor, unable to garner the bounty of one of the world's richest natural resources regions in which they live, is an indictment that can no longer be evaded.'' The population continues to grow, consuming an increasing amount of diminishing natural resources. Taken together the trends do not augur well for sustainable and cooperative development. According to him, the programme has been impeded by mistrust, fears, misperceptions and myths. However, the signing of the Mahakali and the Ganga agreements by India with Nepal and Bangladesh recently has created a new framework for integrated regional cooperation.

To enable the reader to understand the issue better, the author has given a note on river names, since they are different in different countries. There is a great treasure in the 214 million hectare metre (M.H.M.) of water that the Ganga, the Brahmaputra and the Barak (GBB) carry to the sea and the staggering 250,000 M.W. hydro-electric potential of this basin. He has explained that the GBB system carries a phenomenal load of 2.9 billion tonnes of sediment into the Bay of Bengal every year. Studies conducted by the World Bank suggest the existence of a series of truly deep aquifers underlying the Nepal terai, the Ganga plain and the Bengal basin, both in West Bengal and Bangladesh, at a depth of 1000-3000 metres.

The author has explained in detail the physical features of the Himalayas, its orogeny, antecedent rivers, aquifers, land formation, river migration, desert plateau and delta from Ramapithecus to recent times. He has also narrated historical incidents such as the Aryan advance, the Mughal era, rise of British power, famine, impact of irrigation, changes in Nepal and Tibet, and population and poverty in the basin in chapter two.

In the next chapter, ``Farm performance and prospects'', the food grain targets for 2000 A.D. for the basin countries have been identified and he has indicated that the average hectare crop yield in the region is very less, compared to China, the reason being inadequate regulation of water resulting in alternating flood and drought conditions.

In chapter five, the author has given in detail the Indian water balance, water resources of the GBB basin, and the progress in irrigation in U.P., Bihar, West Bengal and also the salinity of water. He has detailed water management, command area development programme from the inception, experiences in various commands in the basin, evaluation made, Warabandhi and other water allocation systems. All of us are suggesting volumetric charge for the irrigation water, but this is being adopted in the Mohini Cooperative Society in Surat district of Gujarat, comprising 280 hectares in three villages in the Mahi canal command, as indicated by the author. Water management improved in the area and irrigation has doubled as a result of farmers' cooperation. He has clearly brought out the defects like the poor maintenance of the canal and merits of water users organisation in detail. He has also explained the flood and unique drainage problems including the flood protection plans for the basin.

In the next chapter, ``Green mantle, the policy parameter for the forest area'', the extent of forest area in India i.e., only about 19.7 per cent as against the desired 33 per cent, forest situations in Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet and Bangladesh have been explained very clearly.

Energy, more than steel, is critical for every activity. The basin has vast hydro-electric potential, i.e., about 2,50,000 M.W. but only a tiny part is being harnessed though it is generally cheaper than thermal power. He has given in detail the various projects, including micro hydel units and water turbines, National power plan 2000, problem of super thermal stations and the advantages of basin development including the tapping of the Brahmaputra bend and modernising transmission and distribution lines in the basin.

The author has detailed the environmental movement in South Asia which is less than two decades old, the displacement problem and the submergence of forest land. Though there is a heated controversy about big dam construction in India, he has cryptically said ``Who dare think today of an India without Bhakra? Environmental providence and care is the path of wisdom on water resources development as in all other forms of sustainable development, not eco fundamentalism.'' He has discussed about the safety of dams in view of the zone of earthquakes and big dams like Tehri are being designed to withstand earthquakes. It is proved that the recent earthquake (1999) in the region did not harm the Tehri dam.

The author has indicated the effects of irrigation projects on health and detailed various health problems due to irrigation in chapter 12, ``To your good health''. There is little and no health maintenance in reservoirs and canal system though it is advocated in all water resources projects. He has discussed pollution of the Ganga and the Yamuna and the Ganga Action Plan to improve water quality. Though the Ganga Action Plan is in operation for nearly 10 years, the result is not encouraging.

In the next four chapters, the author has described the faunal wealth, developing reservoir culture fisheries, induced breeding, integrated fish farming and other issues in the chapter ``More fish to fry''. He has detailed the importance of inland waterway which is cheap not only in India, but in all basin states, how the competition of railway and road have overtaken this and how inland navigation has been neglected. He has explained the water laws and water disputes from the time of the Buddha till now, giving the Helsinki rules, U.N. mandate to International Law Commission - international disputes and other related issues. He has also explained India's national perspective plan like that of Dr. K. L. Rao to bring an additional area of about 35 M Ha under irrigation. He has vividly described the cooperation for the development stating that ``The GBB system cannot be so divided. It must be shared.'' He has detailed the various agreements between the basin states, joint approach and political pulls and problems.

In the last three chapters, the author has clearly brought out the problems of the basins and the solutions in very clear terms. The last chapter, ``From vision to reality'', is the only addition to the first edition, which sums up the thrust of unfolding events.

There is a substantive shift in thinking about regional cooperation about water and environment, especially after the signing of the Mahakali and the Ganga Agreement by India with Nepal and Bangladesh. The author has observed that India is at the centre - geographically, politically and economically - and so it is up to India to take the lead.

He has also observed that any concession India may give in the short term will be more than compensated by the long term benefits it will reap from cooperative management of the basin's water resources.

The book has analysed every aspect of the basin in depth giving authentic facts and figures and also the solution to the problems of the basin. It should be read by politicians, bureaucrats, farmers and the public not only in India but also the people of basin states - Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Tibet - to get an awareness of the potential of the basin.

It should be perused also by the U.N. agencies, donor agencies, international committees so that with their cooperation, this region can become one of the wealthiest in the world.

R. K. SIVANAPPAN

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Features
Next     : A story that has not been told before