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VOL. 28, NO. 14, Dec 12, 2008 (Mangsir 27 2065 B.S.)
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NEPAL-INDIA WATER RESOURCES
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Challenges Ahead
At a time when the country's new rulers are trying to define Nepal's water resources, the new book gives real shocks on how challenging it is to implement
By KESHAB POUDEL
Whatever one says, Nepal-India water resources relations is always a matter of political controversy in Nepal. Being close neighbors of South Asia, Nepal and India have no option other than to live together and share Nepal's water resources benefiting people of both the countries.
However, Nepal and India have failed to do so. There is no lack of leaders who don't mind to harp statements that suit their interest. Instead of looking at the ground reality and complications involved in it, political leaders try to see the issues as simple agenda.
Numbers of books have already been written regarding Nepal-India Water Resources Relationship but there are only a few books which deal comprehensively about Nepal India water resources relations.
Although it is released, the book edited by D.N. Dhungel and S.B. Pun, The Nepal-India Water Resources Relationship: Challenges is yet to available in the market.
Highlighting about the book, Dipak Gyawali looking at the last five decades experiences, said the problems related to water resources between Nepal-India remain
unresolved. "This book is very useful since this is a compilation of experiences of various people who were involved in the dealing with India on water resources," said Gyawali, who also served as a minister of water resources.
Although the book is yet to available in the market, the synopsis presented by various authors during the course of unveiling the book shows that the book is interesting to read and includes many interesting contributions from Nepal's renowned authors.
Divided into 11 different chapters, the book intensively discusses various aspects of Nepal-India water resources agenda. The book is published by Springer Publication of the Netherlands.
"Even I have not seen the book. I have only glanced the book as you all have," said Subhash Nembang, chairman of Constituent Assembly, unveiling the book.
"So far as the issues raised by book on Nepal-India water resources is concerned, it will be both interesting and tricky," said Nembang.
"The very geography of Nepal and India is such that these two countries must live together and engage with each other in many spheres: social, economic and political. Of all the issues that these two countries have to deal with, water resources is not only the most important one but also the one that has become a very sensitive matter," writes Dwarika Nath Dhungel, Santa Bahadur Pun, Niva Shrestha and Anil Shrestha in the preface.
Regarding the relationship in water resources of Nepal and India, it exists at both people-to-people and official level. The people-to-people relationship has been there since time immemorial. At the official level, based on available records, the
relationship is more than one hundred and thirty years old. According to introductory chapter distributed after the launching of book, the book is divided into 11 different chapters contributed by various prominent water resources experts who served in various positions in Nepal's water resources sector.
Edited by renowned water resources experts D. N. Dhungel, S.B. Pun, and Dipak Gyawali, academicians of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, have contributed an Epilogue: (Reimagining Nepal's Water: Institutional Blind Spots, Developmental Blind Alleys and the Lessons of the Country's Past). Other contributors include water resources experts like Bhubanesh Kumar, Dr. Ananda Bahadur Thapa, Dwarika Nath Dhungel, Hari Man Shrestha, irrigation expert Som Nath Poudel, former managing director of Nepal Electricity Authority Santa Bahadur Pun, former deputy managing director of NEA Prachar Man Singh Pradhan, and experts Niva Shrestha Anil Shrestha and Basistha Raj Adhikari.
"As country is in the process of making a new constitution under a federal structure, there is a need to generate the debate over sharing of water resources among various groups and region. This is right time to debate on the issues related to water," said country representative of Water Aid Nepal.
Sharing water resources is always a matter of controversy. "Voices are echoing from Nepali side regarding the amendment of Kosi and Gandak treaty. I think Nepal will
gain nothing in this juncture when we go for amendment with India," said Santa Bahadur Pun.
Chairman of IIDS governing body Dr. Mohan Man Sainju and Arun Dhoj Adhikary also spoke about the book.
