Letters: Dam problems

Apropos the editorial “Three more dams” (February 6), China aims at building a series of reservoirs on the Tibetan Plateau on the tributaries of Brahmputra for power generation and irrigation. The river and its tributaries have been revered as the soul of Assam. China’s overall designs will mean catastrophic consequences for India, and Bangladesh — the lower riparian nations. Water resources in both India and Bangladesh are overstretched owing to increased demand from a growing population and economic developments. Currently, there is a lack of political will to bring up this vital issue with China. Besides, there is no international law on the economical and equitable distribution of water. A sovereign nation can freely use natural resources existing in its territory, unless restricted by a treaty or an international customary law. Globally, only the “Helsinki rules on the uses of the waters of international rivers” exists, but these are guides and not laws. In the absence of any treaty, China’s decision poses the biggest obstacle to the building of institutional cooperation with India to harness international-shared river for mutual and sustainable benefit.

Sushil Bakliwal Jaipur

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