Cooperation or conflict in transboundary water management: case study of South Asia

The transboundary Himalayan rivers flowing through Bhutan, Nepal, India and Bangladesh provide a golden opportunity to improve the standard of living of the largest concentration of the poor people in the world. Bhutan and India have shown that, given goodwill and trust between the countries concerned, water can be successfully used as an engine for economic growth. This can bring substantial benefits to the people of both the countries. In contrast, lack of trust between Nepal, India and Bangladesh has compounded the deprivation of the region through underdevelopment. This paper analyses two very contrasting results of managing transboundary rivers in South Asia, a most successful one in Bhutan and India, and a missed opportunity in Nepal, India and Bangladesh.