Muhammad Mizanur Rahaman

Integrated Water Resources Management: Evolution, Prospects and Future Challenges

Abstract This paper analyzes the evolution of the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) at international conferences over the past three decades and addresses the prospects of IWRM in resolving the current water crisis. It also identifies seven crucial challenges to implementing IWRM. Our rivers and aquifers are the life-blood of the planet. To achieve sustainable development, we must manage our most vital natural resource, water, in an integrated manner, or precisely through Integrated Water Resources Management. Since water is fundamental to many aspects of life, and to the surrounding natural environment, there is a need not only to review IWRM’s evolution in the last three decades, but also to identify future challenges to its implementation.

EU Water Framework Directive vs. Integrated Water Resources Management: The Seven Mismatches

The aim of this paper is to analyze how the EU Water Framework Directive complies with the international principles concerning Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) agreed in major conferences. The outcomes of the International Conference on Water and Environment (Dublin, 1992), the Second World Water Forum (The Hague, 2000), the International Conference on Freshwater (Bonn, 2001), and the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) (Johannesburg, 2002) were compared with the EU Water Framework Directive. Seven notable mismatches were found, even though several EU countries have played a leading role in those conferences. The question arises whether the outcome of these conferences is not efficient enough to influence EU policies—do the conferences just produce collections of idealistic buzzwords or is there a requirement for different principles regarding IWRM for developing countries and developed countries?

Principles of Transboundary Water Resources Management and Ganges Treaties: An Analysis

The aim of this paper is to analyse the coverage of the principles of transboundary water resources management in two key bilateral treaties in the Ganges Basin. The treaties are the 1996 Mahakali Treaty between Nepal and India and the 1996 Ganges Water Treaty between India and Bangladesh. The study reveals that both treaties incorporate several internationally recognized transboundary water resources management principles, e.g. the principle of equitable and reasonable utilization, an obligation not to cause significant harm, principles of cooperation, information exchange, notification, consultation and the peaceful settlement of disputes. The presence of these internationally accepted principles in these two treaties offer plenty of common ground, which could serve as guidelines to promote sustainable water resources management throughout the region.

Myanmar under reform: Emerging pressures on water, energy and food security

Myanmars water‐related sectors are subject to intensive changes, as the countrys abundant land and water resources provide substantial scope for development. Recent steps towards economic reform in Myanmar have led to a surge of foreign investment directed towards intensified natural resource extraction. Both the agricultural and the energy sector are increasingly affected by foreign investments that will impact the status of water, energy and food security in the country. With these on‐going developments, Myanmars future is largely dependent on how its natural resources are managed and how the benefits from the resource extraction are shared. With various institutional changes and new actors welcomed to the sectors, existing livelihoods and ecosystems dependent on the land and water resources are to face increasing competition for the shared resources, while lacking secured access to them. There are increasing concerns that this sectoral development is occurring at the expense of environmental and social sustainability. As one way to tackle these challenges, the water‐energy‐food nexus approach could help in finding synergies and co‐benefits across sectors by addressing the imbalances along the nexus and externalities derived from the on‐going intensification.

Principles of international water law: creating effective transboundary water resources management

This article summarises the principles of international water law related to transboundary water resources management and analyses to what extent these principles are incorporated in recent international conventions and treaties. The study reveals that principle of equitable and reasonable utilisation, obligation not to cause significant harm, principles of cooperation, information exchange, notification, consultation and peaceful settlement of disputes are widely acknowledged by modern international conventions, agreements and treaties. These principles could facilitate effective transboundary water resources management involving riparian countries of shared watercourses and hence, promote sustainable development around the world.

The Rocky Road from Integrated Plans to Implementation: Lessons Learned from the Mekong and Senegal River Basins

There is an undeniable need to coordinate and harmonize water sector policies at the global level, particularly those in large, transboundary river basins. Recent decades have witnessed a number of large international summits and other important events for that purpose, events that have expanded substantially both in size and frequency. This study analyzed the most important events, beginning with the United Nations Conference on Water (Mar del Plata 1977) an up until the Fourth World Water Forum (Mexico City 2006). The main outcomes of the events are analyzed and a comparison is made of the developments of the water sector in the Mekong and Senegal river basins. On the one hand, the gap between international recommendations and reality in large international river basins appears to remain considerable, and on the other hand the evolution of the quality of the recommendations per se also appears somewhat questionable.

Principles of Transboundary Water Resources Management and Water-related Agreements in Central Asia: An Analysis

This paper analyzes the use of transboundary water resources management principles in two key regional water-related agreements in Central Asia: the Agreement on Cooperation in Joint Management, Use and Protection of Interstate Sources of Water Resources (1992) and the Statute of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia (2008). These agreements incorporate several internationally recognized transboundary water resources management principles, though there are also some weaknesses. The presence of such principles in these regional agreements offers plenty of hope for the promotion of sustainable water resources management in Central Asia.

Hydropower ambitions of South Asian nations and China: Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers basins

This paper analyses the current status of hydropower development in two major rivers basins in South Asia, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra. The total drainage area of the basins is about 1,660,000 km 2 shared by China, Nepal, India, Bhutan and Bangladesh. These two basins are blessed with ample water resources and huge hydropower potential. The abundant hydropower potential of these rivers basins is the key driving force behind the prospect of potential transboundary cooperation in the field of water and can help providing riparian countries with a safer energy future. Based on five years of research studies (2005–2010), this paper analyses the hydropower development plans and ambitions of riparian nations with special focus on China and India. The finding suggests that it is essential to develop an integrated hydropower development approach involving all riparian nations intended to foster regional development and overcome the prospect of severe conflict because of unilateral hydropower ambitions of China and India. The hydropower development cooperation among the riparian nations could also become the positive turning point in the integration of South and Southeast Asia.

The Mexico World Water Forum's Ministerial Declaration 2006: A Dramatic Policy Shift?

This paper analyzes the scope of the Fourth World Water Forums Ministerial Declaration (Mexico, 2006) in the context of globally accepted water management principles. Two major declarations related to global water policy are scrutinized, i.e. Chapter 18 of Agenda 21 (1992) and the Third World Water Forums Ministerial Declaration (Kyoto, 2003). Ten globally accepted water management principles were identified that were not properly addressed in the Mexico Ministerial Declaration. Even though holistic and Integrated Water Resources Management has been widely propagated as the best water management practice, the Mexico World Water Forums Ministerial Declaration undertakes a dramatic structural shift in global water policy by favouring a non-holistic and fragmented approach to water management.This paper analyzes the scope of the Fourth World Water Forums Ministerial Declaration (Mexico, 2006) in the context of globally accepted water management principles. Two major declarations related to global water policy are scrutinized, i.e. Chapter 18 of Agenda 21 (1992) and the Third World Water Forums Ministerial Declaration (Kyoto, 2003). Ten globally accepted water management principles were identified that were not properly addressed in the Mexico Ministerial Declaration. Even though holistic and Integrated Water Resources Management has been widely propagated as the best water management practice, the Mexico World Water Forums Ministerial Declaration undertakes a dramatic structural shift in global water policy by favouring a non-holistic and fragmented approach to water management.

Hydropower development in Myanmar and its implications on regional energy cooperation

This paper analyses the current status of hydropower development in Myanmar and its role in strengthening regional energy development and cooperation. Myanmars water sector is facing intensive changes as the countrys abundant water resources provide substantial scope for development. Several plans are underway to tap the countrys vast hydropower potential and to achieve economic growth through increased hydro electricity exports. Factors driving intensive water resources development are: policies seeking energy security, economic growth in the region, the resulting energy demand growth as well as opening of Myanmars economy for investments. The development plans provide many opportunities for economic development and regional cooperation, but also for accelerated natural resources extraction and socioeconomic inequity. This paper concludes that in the face of intensifying hydropower cooperation, improved national level water governance in Myanmar as well as an integrated regional hydropower plan would support sustainable regional energy cooperation and ensure shared benefits and responsibilities from the cross-border hydropower development.