Concluding note on Type II diplomacy
Neupane, Bhanu
Dear colleagues and Respected Seniors,
The sad state or non-existing water sharing arrangements between and amongst Riparian countries of the Ganges is indeed unfortunate. While the direct economic benefits foregone can be seen as one dimension of the problem, a more important dimension is breeding of mistrust at the cost of prosperity prospects of almost half a billion poor people in the basin - that too without any immediate breakthrough in sight.
Once again, I would like to argue the need for more Type II diplomacy.
The noted treaties of the Basin are - Farakka, (still contested) Mahakali and Gandak and Koshi. Interestingly, Farakka and Mahakali treaties were signed on the same year - 1996. Farakka too some 24 years to find mutually agreed text, whilst, Mahakali treaty has still been blamed as quick and dirty by many. The latter two (Koshi andGandak) were signed when Nepal didn't have any technical capability to understand what exactly sharing of water meant. Many experts have now concluded that mutual mistrust, lack of effective and informed dialogue and differences in perception -both for benefits and impacts - has hindered development of a long-term regional water vision.
The common people still don't have any clue as to how many times policy makers meet to discuss their "Rivers"? A colleague and I have collected reports of some 173 meetings and conferences, where at least one minister of any of the riparian countries participated. Although, it wasn't possible for us to obtain "speeches" given by ministers and policy makers and to get a sense of what governments actually conveyed; but browsing through the reports, we could make out a sense that a) diplomacy is continuing but without any breakthrough, b) it always started from square one, thus these failed building on "success", c) most if these are theme based, rather than factual ( what were factual was twisted for accuracy), d) the need for sharing of data and information were highlighted (and lack of such efforts were lamented), e) all noted knowledge management as a way forward, and f) concerted effort to enhance technical cooperation was noted.
In conclusion, building on success, more technical collaboration, less "good for nothing" diplomatic parleys and strong knowledge management are the only few positive steps that can be taken. At the back of the mind, it is essential to appreciate that it is improbable to equally share benefits and impacts, and develop some level of trust to those who are made in charge of the negotiations!
Sent from my iPad B. Neupane
Mukta Sapkota
Along with these issues, there exist other issues such as defining consumptive use of the transboundary countries and fixing the selling price of Nepal’s excess share of electricity to India and at present condition may be how much is Nepal paying for getting the electricity from India.
Francis Keya
to work with you.
In Kenya we are on the same problem 93 per cent they do not know they right.
Thank very much and may god bless you .
yours,
Francis keya
> --
> URBANWATER is an online group created by Nepal National Water Week (NNWW) to
> conduct e discussion on the theme of World Water Day. NNWW has been
> celebrated in Nepal to commemorate the World Water Day (22nd March) and
> World Meteorological Day (23rd March) organizing a week long programs since
> 2008.
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "URBANWATER" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to urbanwater+...@googlegroups.com.
> To post to this group, send email to urban...@googlegroups.com.
> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/urbanwater?hl=en-US.
> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
>
>