Dwarika N. DhungelIndependent Senior ResearcherSocial Sciences Kathmandu ddhungel@hotmail.com

Christopher ButlerDepartment of SociologyUniversity of California, Santa Cruzcjbutler@ucsc.edu

History

Nepal and British-India Government

Three Treaties (Kosi, Gandak, Mahakali)

Joint Committee on Water Resources (JCWR) formed in 2000

Purpose

To analyze the history and process of Nepal-India water cooperation through the minutes of the JCWR, particularly as they revisit past treaties.

To use this analysis to indicate potential pathways for future negotiations.

Kosi Treaty (1954)

Flood controlCompensation issuesSapta Kosi high damSun Kosi-Kamala diversionProjects compatible?

Gandaki Treaty (1959)

Barrage issuesWhose repair?Canal problemsIrrigation

Mahakali Treaty (1996)

Tanakpur barrageSarada barragePancheswar High DamLink road to MahendranagarToR delays

Observations

Irregular meeting schedule

Too many committees

Focus on energy, not water

Lack of commitment on both sides

Gates (sluice gates) built in the protection area (from Bhardah to Kunauli in the western Kosi affluence bund) to drain out water are in bad shape. The bed level of the Kosi has also gone up, as a result of which, during the rainy season, neither the water gathered at the protection area flow down to the river nor protects the area. Rather, the protection area gets flooded due to the entry of Kosi water and cause inundation and havoc in the area.

Road connecting Rajbiraj with Kunauli is in bad shape and has not been repaired. So, people have to make a detour from Hanumannagar.

In the no man's land from the mouth of the Khando River to the border, India has built structures to protect the land in its area. As a result, more than 10 villages get inundated during rainy season.

About 28, 000 families of 60 maujas (villages) have been displaced due to the construction of the Kosi barrage and associated structures; most of them are yet to be compensated.

As per the treaty provisions, the local people are yet to be benefited in the different fields, such as education, health from the Kosi project

There is a problem of siltation in the Kosi western canal, the Kosi pump canal system has become a white elephant for Nepal, and the Nepalese farmers do not receive the water from this system when they need the water as the system is controlled by India

Kosi power house does not produce the energy as envisaged and has been producing only 1 to 1.5 Mw, that, too, during the rainy season only

there has not been satisfactory completion of the main western canal repair work- there are still cracks in the canal, the repair work has not been done as per estimate

the water released in the canal is not sufficient to generate the full quantum of electric power (15 MW) from the Surjpura power house

siltation problem has not been managed and the problem persists

flood structures are yet to be properly managed

In addition, Nepal has not been receiving the assured quantum of water from the eastern canal.

Practically nothing has happened in relation to the implementation of the Treaty Provisions

ConclusionQuestions

1. Under what conditions is India likely to move ahead with fulfilling its commitments to current water resource treaties? Whether she would come out clearly that her interest is in water not in energy? 2. Do Nepali political parties have the vision, unity, and confidence to proactively address its challenges in dealing with India on the topic of water?

Conclusion

Issues

Atmosphere of mistrustTransparency neededGovernment assurances to the publicLet experts negotiate in public interestCommitment to objectives and agreements

Special thanks…Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS)The Asia FoundationInstitute for Integrated Development StudiesDeo Narayagup YadavDudh Nath Gupta

Keshav Dhoj Adhikari Ratan Bhandari Santa B. Pun