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WATER POLITICS

From The Jakarta Post, an interesting interview with Brahma Chellaney, a professor of strategic studies at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi, India, who discusses ways to avert water wars in Asia.  Some of his specific comments were as follows:

“…Large parts of Asia are water-stressed and unless this issue is taken seriously and we manage over water resources seriously, I think in years to come we will face acute water scarcity that will affect our economic development and in turn, any other aspects in our life, from public health to sanitation.

…You see, the battle 50 years ago was fought over land. The battle of today is over energy. The battle of tomorrow will be fought over water.

…Per capita availability of water in Asia today is rivalling water scarcity in Middle East. People do not realize this. Water scarcity in the Middle East is acute. In Asia, uneven distribution of water makes per capita availability of water in countries like China and India almost close to water scarcity in the Middle East.

…Water will become an increasingly competitive commodity. There will be competition for water sources, competition within countries and between countries. This can create potential for water-related tension and water conflicts. Water and security in general is a factor that will create instability and tension.

…Some countries are located upstream on international rivers and such countries have the advantage over the water sources.

They can, for instance, fashion water into a weapon for countries located downstream. They can do it by building dams, canals or divert waters to control water supplies.

How can we avert a water war in Asia?

There are three things that can be done. First is to efficiently manage water resources by looking at long-term implications of water and security. Water management will have to be an important policy priority. As part of water management, you’ll have to look at water conservation, water efficiency, recycling and rainwater harvesting.

Second is to build institutional cooperation over the sharing of international rivers — there are 57 interstate river basins in Asia — to ensure there will be no conflicts over sharing such interstate basins.

Third is to set international rules to govern shared water sources. At present, international laws are very weak, almost nonexistence on water issues. We need to create international norms or international legal principles on issues like sharing water resources.

When should we start doing these three things?

We have to start doing these now because if we do not look at these issues now, then 10 to 15 years from now, water and security issues will become a very destabilizing factor in Asia.”