ABSTRACT

The International Water Management Institute in Colombo anticipates three billion people will be living in countries with strained water resources by the year 2025. Every continent is pressed for water. Many developing countries are already experiencing rapidly increasing water demands. Water resources have been depleted and over-exploited in an attempt to meet the demands. The political and social tension caused by water scarcity can sabotage existing water distribution pacts. Campaigns for water rights are susceptible to complications and impediments when international rivers, lakes and aquifers become involved. Today, two or more countries share nearly 261 river basins. The shortages, the inequitable and multilateral distribution of water exacerbate and accelerate water conflicts. Numerous analysts believe that many developing countries dependent on external water resources may re-orient their national security towards protection or preservation of water access rights.