Abstract:
South Asia is faced with water scarcity, with possible water
conflict in the future. The challenges in the water sector
largely relate to disputes and difficulties arising from unequal
flow distribution of transboundary rivers, as well as
engineering interventions like dams, barrages and storages,
with complete disregard for the agreements signed bilaterally
between various states. India is a source of conflict in the
water-sharing arrangements with its co-basin countries. Low
riparian states have been raising concerns over India‘s
tendency to use water of common rivers unilaterally without
taking into account its human, social, economic and
ecological cost. This paper focuses on conflict over waterrelated problems and their effects on inter-state relations in
South Asia. It highlights the challenges of water development
such as mismanagement of shared water resources and
suggests ways to overcome water-sharing disputes in South
Asia and promote peaceful coexistence.
