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Form regional River Commission to resolve debate on Tipaimukh Dam project, suggests former UN water expert
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Form regional River Commission to resolve debate on Tipaimukh Dam project, suggests former UN water expert
"According to the international water related laws and conventions, no country can carry out such activity on common rivers, as there is always the chance of harming the downstream countries."
Thursday November 24 2011 14:22:47 PM BDT
Dhaka, Nov 24 (UNB) - With a view to resolving the ongoing debate on the Tipaimukd Dam project and also meet the water problems in South Asia, a regional river commission would have to be formed through mutual understanding among neighboring countries, suggests a former UN water expert.
A regional river commission may put an end to the ongoing Tipaimukh Dam debate. The commission would have to be formed involving China, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan to resolve the water problem in the region on the basis of equity," Dr SI Khan told UNB.
He said the Indian government seemed set to go ahead with its plan to build the controversial Tipaimukh Dam on the Barak River in the state of Manipur. But this is a violation of international laws.
"According to the international water related laws and conventions, no country can carry out such activity on common rivers, as there is always the chance of harming the downstream countries."
He mentioned that as per the World Convention on Dams, if a country wants to build a dam with height over 15 metres and minimum water reservoir capacity of 3 million cubic metres on a common river, the project must be acceptable not only to the government(s) but also people(s) of its river basin.
Dr Khan, also vice president of International Farakka Committee, said although the height of the proposed Tipaimukh Dam is 163 metres and its water reservoir capacity would be 1.5 billion cubic metres, India has not shown any willingness to negotiate with downstream Bangladesh.
"As Barak-Surma-Kushiara is an international river, Bangladesh should have equitable share of its waters and access to detailed information about any proposed project such as Tipaimukh Dam," he said.
The water expert mentioned that article 9 of the Ganges water sharing treaty, signed by Bangladesh and India in 1996, also states that both sides will implement a no-harm policy and refrain from taking unilateral steps concerning all shared rivers.
He also said that according to the Helsinki Convention, upper countries could not carry out any such activities that might adversely impact on environment and biodiversity of downstream counties. But India has taken a controversial move (Tipaimukh Dam project) that will spell environmental disaster for Bangladesh.
Referring to the Mekong River Commission, Dr Khan said there are many common rivers in the world and Mekong is such a common river in East Asia. Laos once tried to build a dam on Mekong River, but it was compelled to abandon the move following abjection by other countries in the region.
Meanwhile, many eminent environmentalists and water experts in the country have warned that the Tipaimukh Dam will spell disaster in the Meghna River Basin. Obstruction of its flow by the said dam will wreak environmental havoc in the eastern part of Bangladesh and cause severe damage to lives and livelihood of people. The proposed dam upstream of the Meghna signals unprecedented disaster for Bangladesh.
They said the deal to construct the dam has been signed at a time when dams and barrages are being decommissioned in the Western countries to restore the ecology of rivers to their original state.
Eminent water expert Dr Ainun Nishat recently said that according to international law, India cannot construct Tipaimukh Dam without a joint environmental assessment.
An impact assessment on the Surma-Kushiara river systems, conducted by the Institute of Water Modelling (IWM) of Bangladesh in 2005, says that a dam like Tipaimukh will surely cause long- and short-term effects.
"Some of the effects will be noticed even after a few hundred years," notes the study, titled "Hydrological Impact Study of Tipaimukh Dam Project".
The dam will certainly lead to the loss of riverine habitats and species. The free-flowing Surma and Kushiara will run dry and remain so for a major portion of the year (November-May), badly affecting agriculture, irrigation, navigation and drinking water supply, the impact assessment says.
The common Barak River enters Bangladesh as the Surma and Kushiara rivers. Reports emerged this week of a joint investment agreement on the construction of the Tipaimukh dam, along with a hydroelectric project for 1500 megawatts of electricity, having been signed among NHPC Ltd (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, India's premier hydropower company), the Manipur state government and another state enterprise, the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVN) on October 22.
http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidRecord=371215
A regional river commission may put an end to the ongoing Tipaimukh Dam debate. The commission would have to be formed involving China, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan to resolve the water problem in the region on the basis of equity," Dr SI Khan told UNB.
He said the Indian government seemed set to go ahead with its plan to build the controversial Tipaimukh Dam on the Barak River in the state of Manipur. But this is a violation of international laws.
"According to the international water related laws and conventions, no country can carry out such activity on common rivers, as there is always the chance of harming the downstream countries."
He mentioned that as per the World Convention on Dams, if a country wants to build a dam with height over 15 metres and minimum water reservoir capacity of 3 million cubic metres on a common river, the project must be acceptable not only to the government(s) but also people(s) of its river basin.
Dr Khan, also vice president of International Farakka Committee, said although the height of the proposed Tipaimukh Dam is 163 metres and its water reservoir capacity would be 1.5 billion cubic metres, India has not shown any willingness to negotiate with downstream Bangladesh.
"As Barak-Surma-Kushiara is an international river, Bangladesh should have equitable share of its waters and access to detailed information about any proposed project such as Tipaimukh Dam," he said.
The water expert mentioned that article 9 of the Ganges water sharing treaty, signed by Bangladesh and India in 1996, also states that both sides will implement a no-harm policy and refrain from taking unilateral steps concerning all shared rivers.
He also said that according to the Helsinki Convention, upper countries could not carry out any such activities that might adversely impact on environment and biodiversity of downstream counties. But India has taken a controversial move (Tipaimukh Dam project) that will spell environmental disaster for Bangladesh.
Referring to the Mekong River Commission, Dr Khan said there are many common rivers in the world and Mekong is such a common river in East Asia. Laos once tried to build a dam on Mekong River, but it was compelled to abandon the move following abjection by other countries in the region.
Meanwhile, many eminent environmentalists and water experts in the country have warned that the Tipaimukh Dam will spell disaster in the Meghna River Basin. Obstruction of its flow by the said dam will wreak environmental havoc in the eastern part of Bangladesh and cause severe damage to lives and livelihood of people. The proposed dam upstream of the Meghna signals unprecedented disaster for Bangladesh.
They said the deal to construct the dam has been signed at a time when dams and barrages are being decommissioned in the Western countries to restore the ecology of rivers to their original state.
Eminent water expert Dr Ainun Nishat recently said that according to international law, India cannot construct Tipaimukh Dam without a joint environmental assessment.
An impact assessment on the Surma-Kushiara river systems, conducted by the Institute of Water Modelling (IWM) of Bangladesh in 2005, says that a dam like Tipaimukh will surely cause long- and short-term effects.
"Some of the effects will be noticed even after a few hundred years," notes the study, titled "Hydrological Impact Study of Tipaimukh Dam Project".
The dam will certainly lead to the loss of riverine habitats and species. The free-flowing Surma and Kushiara will run dry and remain so for a major portion of the year (November-May), badly affecting agriculture, irrigation, navigation and drinking water supply, the impact assessment says.
The common Barak River enters Bangladesh as the Surma and Kushiara rivers. Reports emerged this week of a joint investment agreement on the construction of the Tipaimukh dam, along with a hydroelectric project for 1500 megawatts of electricity, having been signed among NHPC Ltd (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, India's premier hydropower company), the Manipur state government and another state enterprise, the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVN) on October 22.
http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidRecord=371215
UNB
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