The North-Western region of India has long been marked by the intricate web of rivers that flow through its landscape, serving as a lifeline for agriculture, industry, and communities. However, beneath the serene surface of these rivers lies a complex tapestry of disputes among the riparian states over the sharing of water resources. The persistent disagreements on water allocation have become a recurring challenge, posing significant socio-economic and political implications for the states involved. As the water demand escalates with growing populations and expanding development, the need for a fair and sustainable resolution to these disputes becomes increasingly urgent. This essay delves into the ongoing conflicts surrounding water sharing in North-West India, examining the historical context, underlying factors, and potential solutions to this critical issue that holds the key to the region’s prosperity and well-being.
Answer
The water-sharing disputes between the riparian states of North-West India have been continuing for decades. For e.g., The Ravi and Beas water dispute is over 70 years old dating back to the partition of India in 1947.
Reasons for continuing disputes on water sharing between the riparian states of North-West India are:
- Scarcity of water
- The North-West India region is water-scarce, the average annual rainfall in the region is less than 750 mm, which is below the national average of 1170 mm.
- Uneven distribution of water
- The Himalayan states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand receive a lot of rainfall (>1200mm annually on Average), while the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan receive less rainfall (<750mm annually on Average).
- Competing demands for water
- There are competing demands for water from different sectors, such as agriculture, industry, and domestic use.
- For e.g., Punjab is known as the “wheat bowl of India” and is a major paddy producer that is water intensive, Industrial regions like the National Capital Region (NCR), the Mumbai-Surat major industrial belt have huge water demands.
- Lack of cooperation between states
- The riparian states have not been able to cooperate effectively to share water resources.
These disputes between the riparian states of North-West India have led to several problems, including
- Conflicts between farmers
- The water-sharing disputes have led to conflicts between farmers in different states.eg. In 2017 farmers from Punjab were protesting against the construction of a dam in Haryana, which they argued would reduce the amount of water available to them.
- Loss of crops
- The water-sharing disputes have led to the loss of crops in some states e.g. A study by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) found that the water-sharing disputes between Rajasthan and Gujarat have led to a loss of crops worth over ₹5,000 crores every year.
Migration
The water-sharing disputes have led to the migration of farmers from water-scarce states to water-rich states.eg According to a 2016 report by the National Commission on Farmers, over 25% of farmers in Punjab and Rajasthan were considering migrating to other states due to water shortages.
- Environmental degradation
- The water sharing disputes have led to environmental degradation-depletion of groundwater and the salinization of soil.eg. Central Ground Water Board found that the water table in Punjab has declined by over 1 meter per year in the past two decades, over 40% of the blocks in Punjab are now classified as over- exploited.
The Indian government has taken several steps to resolve the water-sharing disputes between the riparian states of North-West India. These steps include:
- Constitution of tribunals
- The government has constituted tribunals to adjudicate the water sharing disputes.eg Ravi and Beas Water Tribunal (1986), Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (1969)
- Inter-state agreements
- The government has facilitated inter-state agreements on water sharing.eg The Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal Award, 2017
- Water conservation measures
- The government has implemented several water conservation measures, such as drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting. eg.
However, the water-sharing disputes between the riparian states of North-West India have not been fully resolved. There is a need for further cooperation between the states and the central government to resolve these disputes.
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