THE GANGES WATER DIVERSION: ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS AND IMPLICATIONS

Transcription

1 THE GANGES WATER DIVERSION: ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS AND IMPLICATIONS edited by M. MONIRUL QADER MIRZA Adaptation and Impacts Research Group (AIRG), Environment Canada, c/o Institute for Environmental Studies (IES), University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS DORDRECHT / BOSTON / LONDON

2 Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgments Glossary vii ix xi THE GANGES WATER DIVERSION: ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS AND IMPLICATIONS -AN INTRODUCTION 1.1 Ganges Basin: Hydro-Meteorological Setting, Limitations and Water Diversion Water Diversion and Dispute Resolution: The Phases of Negotiations Water Diversion and Environmental Concerns Road Map to the Book 7 HYDROLOGICALCHANGESINBANGLADESH 2.1 Introduction The Ganges Basin: Hydro-Meteorological Setting The Data Hydrologic Changes in the Ganges System Conclusions 31 ROLE OF FARAKKA BARRAGE ON THE DISASTROUS 1998 FLOOD IN MALDA (WEST BENGAL) S.K. Mazumder 3.1 Introduction Brief Description of the Flood Causes of Flood and Role of Farakka Barrage Conclusions 48 xiii

3 xiv Table of Contents IMPACT OF UPSTREAM HUMAN INTERVENTIONS ON THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE GANGES-GORAI SYSTEM Maminul Hague Sarker 4.1 Introduction Approach Geo-Morphological Settings Hydro-Morphological Characteristics Natural and Human Interventions and Their Impacts on the Ganges Changes in the Ganges River and its Impact on the Gorai River Future of the Gorai River Discussion and Concluding Remarks 77 EFFECTSONWATERSALENITYIN BANGLADESH and Maminul Haque Sarker 5.1 Introduction Dynamics of River Salinity in the Southwest Region The Data Analytical Methods Reduced Dry Season Flow and Effects on Salinity Projection of Salinity under the Ganges Water-Sharing Treaty Implications of Increased Salinity in Bangladesh ~ Conclusions 101 FARAKKA BARRAGE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE HYDROLOGY AND FISHERY OF HOOGHLY ESTUARY M. Sinha 6.1 Introduction The Impact Concluding Remarks 122

4 7 Table of Contents IMPLICATIONSONECOSYSTEMSINBANGLADESH Ansarul Karim xv 7.1 Introduction Bounding the Ganges Dependent Ecosystems Impact on Physical Environment Impact of Reduced Freshwater Flow on Vegetation Impact on Faunal Richness Water Quality and Aquatic Biota Salinity and Fish Fauna of Conservation Significance Ecosystem Integrity Impacts on Ecosystem Services 159 WATERINGTHE BANGLADESHI SUNDARBANS Alan Potkin 8.1 Introduction The Forested Mouths of the Ganges The Ganges-Brahmaputra Link Canal Water Development in Nepal Social Impacts of Reservoirs Towards Watering the Sundarbans 174 ADVERSE EFFECTS ON AGRICULTURE IN THE GANGES BASIN IN BANGLADESH and Md. Altaf Hossain 9.1 Introduction Agro-Climate of the Ganges Basin in Bangladesh Degraded Agro-Ecological Constraints and Agriculture in the Ganges Basin Water Diversion and Effects on Agriculture Affected Area and Production Loss Concluding Remarks 194

5 xvi Table of Contents ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE GANGES WATER DIVERSION AND ITS INTERNATIONAL LEGAL ASPECTS Md. Nazrul Islam 10.1 Introduction Environmental Impact of Indian Water Diversion Projects Legal Responses in the 1996 Treaty The 1997 Watercourse Convention A Comparison between the 1996 Treaty and the 1997 Convention Customary Rules in the 1997 Convention Global Environmental Conventions and Soft Law Instruments Conclusions 220 WATCHINGTHE FARAKKABARRAGE: ROLE OFMEDIA Moinuddin Naser, Harun-Ur-Rashid and Farzana Abdulhusein 11.1 Introduction Reflection offarakka in the Media The Role of Media The Function of Media Adaptation Authoritative Differences Over Resources Conclusions: Media Should Show the Way Ahead 240 1: VULNERABILITY TO THE GANGES WATER DIVERSION: ADAPTATION AND COPING MECHANISMS 12.1 Introduction Vulnerability, Adaptation and Adaptive Capacity: A Brief Review of Concept and Issues Water Diversion, Incremental Hazards and Thresholds Adaptation and Coping Mechanisms: A Synthesis Cost of Adaptation Concluding Remarks 281

6 Table of Contents xvii THE GANGES WATER SHARING TREATY: RISKANALYSIS OF THE NEGOTIATED DISCHARGE 13.1 Introduction The Data The Analytical Methods How to Reduce the Risk? Concluding Remarks REGIONAL COOPERATION ON WATER AND ENVIRONMENT IN THE GANGES BASIN: BANGLADESH PERSPECTIVES Q.K. Ahmad and Ahsan Uddin Ahmed 14.1 Introduction The Ganges Basin Cooperation Potential in the Ganges Basin: A Framework Experiences of Past Cooperation and Past Efforts Towards Forging Cooperation An Emerging Issue: The Case of Inter-Linking of Rivers in India Concluding Remarks 322 ANNEXI 327 INDEX 357