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By Ramaswamy R Iyer
A review of Bhim Subba's new book about the Himalayas and the water environment it houses
Himalayan Waters - Promise and Potential, Problems and Prospects, Bhim Subba, Panos South Asia, Kathmandu, 2001, pp. ix + 286, price not stated
 In some ways this book reminds one of B G Verghese’s Waters of Hope. Like that book, this too starts with primordial times – the thrusting up of the Himalayan range, the formation of glaciers and rivers, and so on – and proceeds to contemporary times and current water-related issues and the politics that surround them. Like Verghese, Subba too sees much promise of prosperity for the peoples of the region in the Himalayan waters, and like Waters of Hope this book also makes a strong plea for inter-country cooperation. However, while the former was a massive volume packed with detailed information and elaborate discussions, the latter is smaller in length, simpler and briefer in discussion, more like a primer or introduction in style and scope, and profusely and attractively illustrated. It is addressed, as the Preface by Panos says, to “the lay person wanting to learn more about the Himalaya and the water environment it houses.” The Preface adds: “The book helps the reader understand the geophysical environment of the Himalaya and its huge water resource base. It also introduces the politics of water in the region, the heightened sensitivities on this issue, and the resultant water-related disputes and differences among neighbours.”
When this reviewer first saw the book, its glossiness and the colourful illustrations misled him into thinking that it was a coffee-table kind of book, but it quickly became clear that it was much more than that. It is certainly elementary and introductory, and provides simple explanations for the general reader, but what is offered is solid and fairly precise. There is a great deal of useful information in the book – information that is not generally available in one place. The value of the book is enhanced by the clear, colourful and attractive maps, diagrams and pictures. It explains hydrological ideas and concepts and the basics relating to hydroelectric power plants lucidly. Even a person very familiar with these matters will find a reading of this book a rewarding exercise. The problems of water-sharing between countries and the complexities of negotiations relating to projects are well presented. The chapter on floods dispels many misconceptions and puts matters in perspective. The problems created by attempts to ‘control’ floods are set forth, and the idea of ‘living with floods’ is persuasively explained. The elements of the large dam controversy are lucidly expounded. The author does not take a dogmatic position on the issue. While he is clearly not very enthusiastic about major interventions in the natural regimes of rivers, he does not rule them out altogether.
However, it is not easy to reconcile the author’s exposition of the impacts of such projects with his seemingly ready acceptance of long-distance water-transfers: the idea is mentioned with apparent approval three times on p 216. It is also curious that a writer with such a sensitive understanding of the issues involved should thoughtlessly echo the popular idea that water that runs to the sea is wasted: cf., “Sadly, countries in the Himalaya have not been able to divert and make productive use of the available freshwater”, p.16 (reviewer’s italics); “flows wastefully back to the oceans…” (p.38); “flows wastefully down to the sea” (p. 84); “…most of it flows as floodwater to the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal without being used…” (p.88).
A few minor errors, imprecisions and loose statements may perhaps be pointed out.
- “Aryans, Muslims and Mughals came in from the west through Punjab and pushed the indigenous Dravidians south” (p.6). The theory that ‘indigenous’ Dravidians were driven from the north southwards by the invading Aryans does not command universal acceptance, but leaving that aside, did the Muslims and Mughals also push the Dravidians south?
- “But all is not well” (p.65). That refers to the Ganges Treaty. After a shaky start in 1997, the Treaty has in fact been working quite well. Some years ago, the JRC made a statement to this effect. More recently, one of the Ministers of the Khaleda Zia Government acknowledged that it had served Bangladesh well. The crucial point is that the BNP which had been critical of the Treaty earlier has not tried to change it after coming to power, and neither the Government of India nor that of Bangladesh has sought a review of the Treaty, though there was a provision for review at the end of five years (i.e., in December 2001) or even earlier. That shows a measure of satisfaction with the Treaty.
- “…. In 1987 the technology reached Asia…” (p.158). 1987 is evidently a misprint.
- “The Supreme Court of Nepal ruled that the government had to…….obtain parliamentary approval for the accord with India” (p. 194). What the SC said was that the understanding (on Tanakpur) was indeed in the nature of a Treaty or Agreement, but it did not state whether it was of such a nature as to require ratification by a two-thirds majority.
- “…the ratification of the Treaty… was made conditional…” (pp. 194-5). There cannot be a conditional ratification of an international Treaty. A conditional ratification would amount to non-ratification. No one in Nepal says that the Treaty was not ratified. Instruments of ratification were duly exchanged by the two governments, and there were (and could be) no conditions attached. What the Nepal Parliament did was to ratify the Treaty and at the same time pass resolutions (sankalp prastav) on some matters. (These are often referred to in Nepal as ‘strictures’.) This was somewhat illogical, but in any case, it was for the Government of Nepal to attend to those resolutions. Undoubtedly this did retard the implementation of the Treaty to some extent.
- “Fears… that Nepal would never be able to obtain a fair price…” (p.195); “India, however, reject the avoided cost principle” (p. 205). This is not correct. In the first place, the price is a matter for negotiation, and India cannot force Nepal to accept a price that it does not like. Secondly, there is a side letter to the Mahakali Treaty which clearly mentions the avoided cost idea. The Indian Prime Minister is a signatory to that exchange. The difference between the two countries is in regard to what that principle means and how it is to be applied.
- In three places, the Bangladeshi view that the silting up of the Gorai intake is attributable to the Farakka Barrage is referred to with implicit acceptance (pp.65, 200, 218). The Indian view is that the Gorai problem antedates Farakka and that the Barrage has nothing to do with it. This should at least have been mentioned.
- It is not clear why the Appendices which reproduce the texts of some Treaties and Agreements do not include the Kosi Agreement, the 1964 / 1966 Amendments to the Gandak and Kosi Agreements (which were made in response to Nepali concerns), and the Mahakali Treaty of February 1996. Incidentally, the 12 December 1996 Treaty between India and Bangladesh was a Treaty on the Sharing of the Ganga /Ganges Waters at Farakka; it is desirable to give it its proper name rather than describe it loosely as the `Farakka Treaty’.
However, we must return from nitpicking to the solid worth of the book. In particular, the Flood chapter is an excellent discussion of a complex issue. This reviewer is also very glad that Subba makes the points (p.220) that “the solutions to the region’s problems are not necessarily stored in giant reservoirs in the mountains”, and that “conventional ideas about the potential of Himalayan waters in relation to flood control or moderation, irrigation, and energy generation, ….. need to undergo a major transformation”. He proceeds to outline a “Can Do” list, ie, a list of what can and needs to be done to realise the visions of prosperity and well-being in the Himalayan basin countries. This is very welcome.
(InfoChange News & Features, October 2003)
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