Articles
Prerequisites to Secure Mutual Agreement among Riparian Countries in an International River Basin upon Construction of Hydraulic Works
1996 Volume 5 Pages 41-50
Details
1996 Volume 5 Pages 41-50
More than 200 river basins in the world are shared by two or more countries. These basins account for about 47 percent of the earth's land area. In international watercourses, national interests among countries are likely to diverge because of externalities. Coordinated management of international river basins is still rare, resulting in economic losses, environmental degradation, and international conflict.
International conferences such as the 1992 UNCED have stressed the need for comprehensive management of water resources using the river basin as the focus of analysis. Cooperation and goodwill among riparian countries are essential for efficient development and utilization of international rivers.
Four cases, all in major international river basins, were analysed in this study with a view to identifying some prerequisites, which are indispensable to secure mutual agreement among riparian countries upon construction of hydraulic works. Of four cases, agreements have been reached among basin countries in three cases (Nile River, Indus River and Danube River), while discussion between riparian nations has encountered an impasse in the Ganges River basin.
The lessons of experience with agreements and joint actions between riparian, such as the World Bank's effort to facilitate the 1960 Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan, suggest that external assistance and encouragement are valuable and sometimes essential ingredients in establishing international water agreements.
The presence of third parties can facilitate dispute resolution, guide complex bargaining towards acceptable outcomes, and help maintain balance and commitment by riparian countries to the negotiating process. The international organizations have many advantages as a third party since it can (1) act as independent broker, (2) provide leadership inherent in its international role in donor coordination, and (3) catalyze the mobilization of both official and private funding.
