Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
confined to the Ganga alone. It suggested 12 possible storage dams on the Karnali,
the Sapta Gandaki and the Sapta Kosi, besides two more on the Arun and the
Tamur (in Nepal). Together with those proposed on India's rivers, these would raise
the dry-season flow of the Ganga from 1,557 cumecs, or 55,000 cusecs, to 5,096
cumecs, or 180,000 cusecs. Water stored in reservoirs in Nepal could be released
to the Ganga through natural rivers. Besides, a canal constructed along the Terai
in Nepal could carry water from the Gandak and the Kosi to the Mahananda, the
Karatoya and the Atreyi, to augment their dry-season flow. It could also become a
cross-country ('international') navigation route which Nepal, a land-locked coun-
try, needs badly. Nepal appears to be keenly interested in developing her irrigation,
hydro-power and navigation facilities, but whether they have to be sorted out, bilat-
erally between Nepal and India, or trilaterally among Nepal, India and Bangladesh,
has to be decided by Nepal. India's offer of bilateral dialogue with Nepal on these
issues has merit. Being directly involved in the matter, it would be easier for them
to take a quick decision. India and Nepal need almost the whole of dry-season flow
of the Ganga. On the other hand, it is a fact that the water of the Brahmaputra is
almost untapped and both India and Bangladesh would need huge quantity from its
basin. According to a World Bank report, the total gross demand of water from the
Brahmaputra basin in Bangladesh in the dry season is around about 2,265 cumecs
(80,000 cusecs) and in Assam around 1,700 cumecs (60,000 cusecs) in the long
run; therefore, there would be hardly any water left in the Brahmaputra for inter-
basin transfer. However, much of this flow would be utilized for irrigation during
the transfer also. It would thus not be difficult to transfer between 1,130 cumecs
(40,000 cusecs) and 1,700 cumecs (60,000 cusecs) to the Ganga basin, even in
the long run, after meeting the needs of both countries. Moreover, this volume of
transferred water could be utilized by the two countries only. Seismically and in
respect of other effects, the two proposals have their demerits too, which should be
addressed while drawing the schemes. Thus, considering the pros and the cons, it
appears that the Indian proposal has more merits but both countries should agree for
overall development of the region.
The GBM basin has a diverse climate and a time-space variation of precipitation.
Because of this, accommodation of the needs of the basin countries by a negotiated
settlement is essential. Thus, inter-basin transfer of water from the Brahmaputra
basin to that of the Ganga supports the storage of monsoon flow and its utilization
for irrigation and hydro-power generation. Before going in for a multi-lateral under-
standing, or agreeing for it, bilateral understanding between the directly affected
countries is absolutely necessary. Some progress has taken place, but it is quite slow
when a vast population in the river basins suffers. There is thus a need to create
public opinion in the basin countries for encouraging regional cooperation between,
or among, the governments for harnessing river-water resources.