ABSTRACT

This book presents a systematic study of transboundary, regional and local water conflicts and resistance across several river basins in South Asia. Addressing hydro-socio-economic aspects in competing water sharing and transfer agreements, as well as conflicting regimes of legal plurality, property rights and policy implementation, it discusses themes such as rights over land and natural resources; resettlement of dam-displaced people; urban–rural conflicts over water allocation; peri-urbanisation, land use conflicts and water security; tradeoffs and constraints in restoration of ecological flows in rivers; resilience against water conflicts in a river basin; and irrigation projects and sustainability of water resources.

Bringing together experts, professionals, lawyers, government and the civil society, the volume analyses water conflicts at local, regional and transboundary scales; reviews current debates with case studies; and outlines emerging challenges in water policy, law, governance and institutions in South Asia. It also offers alternative tools and frameworks of water sharing mechanisms, conflict resolution, dialogue, and models of cooperation and collaboration for key stakeholders towards possible solutions for effective, equitable and strategic water management.

This book will be useful to scholars and researchers of development studies, environment studies, water studies, public policy, political science, international relations, conflict resolution, political economy, economics, sociology and social anthropology, environmental law, governance and South Asian studies. It will also benefit practitioners, water policy thinktanks and associations, policymakers, diplomats and NGOs.

chapter 1|22 pages

Shared water

Contest, conflicts and cooperation

part I|153 pages

Transboundary conflicts

chapter 2|31 pages

Negotiated resolution of transboundary water disputes

A function of facts, frames and fairness

chapter 3|27 pages

From lukewarm to meaningful

Understanding and transforming transboundary water cooperation in the Indian subcontinent

chapter 4|19 pages

‘Shared’ waterscapes

The case of river Ravi in Indian and Pakistan Punjab

chapter 6|21 pages

Environmental justice for the victims of the Koshi River Project

The context and elements of transboundary legal response

chapter 7|26 pages

Benefits and burden

A case study of Gandak River Agreement

part II|102 pages

Regional and local conflicts

chapter 8|18 pages

Peri-urbanisation and changing water flows

Competition, conflicts and cooperation

chapter 9|15 pages

Disaster-induced water conflicts and gender

A study of floods in South Asia

chapter 10|24 pages

Examining inter-linkages between water scarcity and human security

A case study of Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, India

chapter 11|23 pages

Urban rivers and their riverfronts

When restoration becomes real estate projects

chapter 12|20 pages

Conflict and resistance over water reallocation

The case of Surya Irrigation Project in Maharashtra