Qn : The Human activities, which take place in trans-border river basins result

in a range of conflicts of interest. To what extent do you agree with this

statement?

Globally, one third of rivers pass through more than one country, signifying the
trans boundary nature of rivers. 40% of the world population lives in trans
border river basin. Human activities taking place in trans-border river basins
include dams, extensive groundwater schemes, sewage disposal, etc. I agree with
the statement to a large extent. Human activities, which take place in trans-
border river basins, do indeed result in a range of conflicts of interest to a large
extent. Although critics highlight the role of the lack of diplomacy fostering
negative relationships, at its roots, the human actions not only disrupt the
quantity of water flowing between the nations, but the quality of the water as
well, which has serious economical and environmental ramifications on the
country in question, thereby resulting in a range of conflicts of interest.

Firstly, human activities which take place in trans- border river basins do result
in a range of conflicts of interest as such activities can severely disrupt the flow
of water to the nations in question. One prime example would be the hydro-
conflict between Nepal and the Indian border state of Bihar, in which the high
dams set up by India along the Koshi river restricts the amount of water flowing
into Nepal. The Koshi Agreement in 1954 did nothing but stall talks to manage
the river flow, instead allowing for the grievances to go unaddressed. The dams
set up were directly conflicting to Nepals interest in emerging as the
hydropower center of Asia, which holds the promise of immense wealth and
political power, but is tempered by these dams that displace villages and
cropland. At the same time, Indias growing interest in hydroelectric projects has
resulted in them trying to preserve as much water as they can. As such, the
human activity, specifically the high dam created along the Koshi river, has
clearly resulted in conflicts of interest between India and Nepal, which only
serves to foster political tension. Therefore, human activities, which take place in
trans-border river basins result in a range of conflicts of interest.

Besides, human activities, which take place in trans-border river basins do result
in a range of conflicts of interest as such activities can induce water pollution,
which affects the quality of water flowing to the other nation. Between USA and
Mexico, there have been a plethora of conflicts regarding sewage disposal
affecting the water quality of the trans-border rivers between them. Further east
along the border, Arizona state officials are suing the International Boundary and
Water Commission (IBWC) for violations to the United States Clean Water Act,
alleging that untreated Mexican industrial wastewater, mixed with domestic
sewage, continues to cross the USA-Mexico border into the city of Nogales,
Arizona. The Conflict of Interest lies in who shells out the funds for disinfection
systems, industrial waste treatment systems, and trash screens, among other
strategic water quality monitoring plans. Clearly, industrial and sewage disposal,
a human activity conducted in Mexico, has resulted in a cross-border conflict as
the water flowing from Mexico into USA possessed cadmium, cyanide and
ammoniacal nitrogen well above legal limits, which poses grave environmental
and health ramifications for USA. Therefore, evidently, human activities, which
take place in trans-border river basins do result in a range of conflicts of interest
as such activities negatively affect the water quality, thereby inducing water
pollution, which has multiple ramifications and results in conflicts of interest.

However, critics argue that the human activities, which take place in Trans-
border Rivers do not directly result in conflicts of interest, but rather the lack of
diplomacy between the countries that induces negative vibes. They quote the
long period of time it took for the negotiations to the 1944 United States-Mexico
Treaty for Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio
Grande Rivers, in which a formal protest from Mexico in 1961 was required
before the negotiations were finally ratified in 1974. Clearly, had the issue
regarding the high salinity of the water been tackled in a more efficient and
diplomatic manner, there would have been virtually no conflicts of interest as all
conflicts would have dissipated extremely quickly. Therefore, on the flip side, it
is worthy to point out that some conflicts of interest are more directly caused
due to the dearth of diplomacy and efficiency in handling the issue involving
water rights between the nations.

In a nutshell, I reassert my stance that human activities, which take place in

trans-border river basins, do indeed result in a range of conflicts of interest to a
large extent. Although critics highlight the role of the lack of diplomacy fostering
negative relationships, at its roots, the human actions not only disrupt the
quantity of water flowing between the nations, but the quality of the water as
well, which has serious economical and environmental ramifications on the
country in question, thereby resulting in a range of conflicts of interest. Overall,
one has to be extremely careful when handling these issues, as the potential for
armed conflict, true Hydro-wars is greatest where water resources naturally
straddle international frontiers.