International legal principles Concerning the Farakka Barrage
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Transcript International legal principles Concerning the Farakka Barrage
Marie-Laure Capela
James M. Decker
Tamara Hale
Roy Nichols
Aaron Thomas
Geographical and Hydrological Setting and Description
History Relevant to the Brahmaputra River Basin
Brahmaputra River Basin
transboundary river of Asia: China, India, Bangladesh
total length : 2850km / 1800miles and the area is
651.334 km2
Origin of the river in Tibet
Merges with the Ganges river : world’s largest delta
Different names:
in Tibet → Yarlung Zangbo river and
Brahmaputra to the east of Nyingchi
In Anaruchal Pradesh → Siang or Dihang river
In India → Brahmaputra river (“son” of Brahma)
in Bangladesh → Jamuna river
From June to October → monsoon season, massive
flooding increasing with deforestation and other human
activities : cause damages
Used as a chief waterway after Indian independance in
1947
sensitive geo-political situation with ongoing territorial
disputes
traditional grain crop in Tibet
States With Interests in the Brahmaputra River Basin
Navigational and Non-Navigational Uses of the Brahmaputra
River Basin
Transportation
Irrigation
Religion
Pleasure
Conflicts and Disputes Over the Brahmaputra River Basin
Legal Regimes/Agreements Related to the Brahmaputra River
Basin
Farakka Barrage
International Legal Agreements
Obstacles to Agreement
Initially India asserted an absolute territorial sovereignty approach.
India denied that the Ganges was an international river citing that
99% of its catchment area lay within India.
India later retracted this view and adopted the view that each
riparian State was entitled to a reasonable and equitable share of the
waters of an international river.
Since 1972 both India and Bangladesh have followed an approach
of Limited territorial sovereignty.
A new massive water project India is considering has
the potential to greatly affect Bangladesh’s water from
the Ganges and Brahmaputra.
The Future of the Brahmaputra River Basin