Water is synonymous to life but is also a cause of losing many lives
The water resources are plunging in Middle-East and North Africa, which hold 5 per cent of world population, but only 0.9 per cent of the world’s potable water resources. The countries hit by water scarcity are constantly on the rise – from only three in 1955 (which included Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait) reaching to 11 in 1990 (with the addition of Algeria, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Tunisia, and Somalia), with another seven are likely to join the group by 2025.
The potable water of Middle-East originates from three major river basins - Euphrates Tigris, Nile and Jordan. Water, without a slightest doubt, is a catalyst of conflict as more and more water scarce countries jostle for their increasing share. The 1967 war between Syria and Israel is being an example. Water conflict is also a basis of many diplomatic efforts and bilateral treaties, like the US brokered Johnson Negotiation in 1953-55 or agreement of Full Utilisation of Nile water in 1959 and Israeli-Jordan treaty in 1994. The twin factors of rapidly rising population and falling water levels are creating ripple in the interstate relations and even evolving into conflicts. There is a fall-out between Israel, Palestine and Jordan over Jordan River basin, between Turkey and Syria over Tigris and Euphrates; and between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over Nile.
In South Asia, however, with the exploding population and increasing environmental degradation, water resource will always be a bone of contention among the countries. In spite of various political and economic divergences, the South Asian countries have shown remarkable maturity in dealing with water distribution. Indus Water Treaty was signed in 1960, between India and Pakistan, where three eastern rivers namely Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas belong to India, while the western rivers viz. Indus, Jhelum and Chenab belongs to Pakistan. In spite of odd differences (like India is building two dams on Jhelum and nine on Chenab), the two countries have upheld IWT even at the lowest ebb of their relationship. Likewise, Ganges Water-Sharing Treaty, between India and Bangladesh in 1996, was a path breaking effort to solve the long-standing disagreement, where as Mahakali Treaty in the same year was an attempt to resolve water sharing crisis between India and Nepal.
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009
The water resources are plunging in Middle-East and North Africa, which hold 5 per cent of world population, but only 0.9 per cent of the world’s potable water resources. The countries hit by water scarcity are constantly on the rise – from only three in 1955 (which included Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait) reaching to 11 in 1990 (with the addition of Algeria, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Tunisia, and Somalia), with another seven are likely to join the group by 2025.
The potable water of Middle-East originates from three major river basins - Euphrates Tigris, Nile and Jordan. Water, without a slightest doubt, is a catalyst of conflict as more and more water scarce countries jostle for their increasing share. The 1967 war between Syria and Israel is being an example. Water conflict is also a basis of many diplomatic efforts and bilateral treaties, like the US brokered Johnson Negotiation in 1953-55 or agreement of Full Utilisation of Nile water in 1959 and Israeli-Jordan treaty in 1994. The twin factors of rapidly rising population and falling water levels are creating ripple in the interstate relations and even evolving into conflicts. There is a fall-out between Israel, Palestine and Jordan over Jordan River basin, between Turkey and Syria over Tigris and Euphrates; and between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over Nile.
In South Asia, however, with the exploding population and increasing environmental degradation, water resource will always be a bone of contention among the countries. In spite of various political and economic divergences, the South Asian countries have shown remarkable maturity in dealing with water distribution. Indus Water Treaty was signed in 1960, between India and Pakistan, where three eastern rivers namely Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas belong to India, while the western rivers viz. Indus, Jhelum and Chenab belongs to Pakistan. In spite of odd differences (like India is building two dams on Jhelum and nine on Chenab), the two countries have upheld IWT even at the lowest ebb of their relationship. Likewise, Ganges Water-Sharing Treaty, between India and Bangladesh in 1996, was a path breaking effort to solve the long-standing disagreement, where as Mahakali Treaty in the same year was an attempt to resolve water sharing crisis between India and Nepal.
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009
Read these article :-
