BY: PREM RAJƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

INTRODUCTION

Nepal is the second richest in water resources in the world which covers 45% total quantity of water of the river Ganges and 70 % of the total quantity of static water of India. Nepal has the capacity of producing 85,000 MW of electricity as an alternative source to fossil energy. But due to the sabotage acts of India through agreements, treaties and MOUƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s when the weak government prevails, has compelled Nepal to long for water & electricity both for her inhabitants & the soil to remain arid. India has ventured the scheme of its chicaneries fulfilled through the politicians of Nepal on whom the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”RAWƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ has done major investment. What ever the projects or the dams / bunds have been built by India are due to the consent of the parliamentarians of Nepal because India does not want Nepal to utilize its water resources on its own or with the financial and technical support of other countries. India plays a major role in sabotaging some major hydro-projects initiated by Nepal. However Nepal is in a position to harness merely 1% of its total water quantity. In short ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”RAWƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and Indian bureaucrats are planning to grasp NepalƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s water resources at any cost and the Nepalese political godfathers are dancing on the disastrous melody of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-His MasterƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s VoiceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ WATER POLITICS

It has been long time since India has shown great love for NepalƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s water resources in order to meet its own demand for potable water, irrigation and electricity because of the electricity generated from coal and uranium can not last India for more than half a century. India has made political investments to the bosses of the political parties and hence has succeeded in utilizing the water resources of Nepal in the best interest of India. The rosy dreams painted by India are viewed by the intellectuals of Nepal, like generating millions of dollars of revenue to Nepal through the export of hydro electricity, irrigation and potable water to India has been an innovative idea which could never come in to force because of IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s dirty water politics in the region to which each neighbouring country is suffering. It has adversely affected NepalƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s politics and economics making it to be the inherent cause of problems for the country associated with continuous interference by India. NepalƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s hydro-power has given the boost to IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s development project. India is also interested in small and medium projects and would like to obtain Karnali, Upper Tamakosi and Upper Karnali the earliest for its usage in India. India contends that Nepal does not require much water for irrigation and that it is only India which needs water for consumption purposes. This argument is linked to the Bhutan model and IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s river-linking project. India has strategic plans to ensure its access to river water in order to meet the needs of the vast, yet not irrigated, agricultural lands in the Northern and Southern provinces. India has never fulfilled its commitments or obligations both at the national or international forums. India is never ready to discuss matters relating to climate, environment and natural disasters. Indian experts have repeatedly argued that India can not meet its energy needs from other sources, however, the country has no other option but to harness NepalƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s water sources. Nepal is aware of this menace but wishes to retain on a rational basis its ownership over water resources and subsequent revenues. Contrary to this India wishes to obtain ownership through coercive measures, hence the conflict arises because that surely jeopardizes the independence and sovereignty of Nepal.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ STRATEGIC AND DEFENSE WATER LINING

India is trying its best to churn the wheel of water and course to strengthen her strategic position to cement her defense corridors linking to the neighbouring countries apart from using the water for drinking or agricultural lands. The Indian ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Interlinking projectƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ mainly concerns the irrigation, portable and power production purposes as advocates India but surely it is done keeping in view the strategic and defense requirements. The project which is estimated to cost over US $ 118 billion is primarily expected to provide internal water security to the IndianƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s and water-induced disasters. Indian authorities envisage to bring around 35 to 37 million of hectares of farm- land under irrigation to generate 34 billion KW of electricity, control floods in flood-prone state and also enhance the countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s navigational efficiency. Some elements argue that the inter-linking of rivers is purely a scheme made to benefit various bureaucrats, Army Generals and the politicians having lands in the vicinity. The scheme tempering with the natural river systems can pose a threat to the region but India will never listen to this alarming situation causing damage to the rest. Ever since the beginning of the feasibility studies, India has been in confrontation with the environmentalists who oppose the construction of large dams and embankments. The neighbouring countries only complain asking India to display ethics and act upon rule of law but being the vagabond of South Asia she turns deaf ears to the requests made by Bangladesh, Nepal, China Bhutan and Pakistan. Strategic and Defense orientation by India while taming rivers to change courses, creating embankments and huge bunds to inundate the soil of the neighbouring countries is a filthy game of using water as a weapon against these countries.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ WATER RESRVES & CHICANERIES OF INDIA

1. 1.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  HARASSMENTSƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

India has been constructing the embankments and dams throughout its northern border without any consultation with Nepal. The water is used for irrigation in Indian farmlands. The embankments and the dams thus built form lakes inside Nepal. This will inundate the low land in Nepal. House and farm lands will also be submerged. Fisheries will be destroyed. It will be difficult to make to and from across the rivers. The construction causes floods in Nepal since the flood water over flows the canal and get in to the farm land and villages of Nepal, ultimately submerging them. This has in turn triggered land slides and cause losses of top soil, productivity and property worth million of rupees. Every year the nation becomes forced to cope with problems of floods, famine and epidemic. And also India often keeps its barrage gates closed during the rainy season when the chances of floods are very high.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Due to such very reasons, the Nepalese in the border areas are forced to live a life full of hardships and difficulties. The government faces embarrassment before the nation each year due to all these chicaneries caused by India while creating harassment in the country.

1. 2.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  WATER LOGGINGS & DEFORESTATION

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tarai region of Nepal lies at higher altitude as compared to the Indian Territory. Had there been no embankment the river water could have spread over the land in a uniform fashion, and Nepal would not have faced the problem of inundation or water logging. Besides destruction of forests, mainly the dense forest known as CHARKOSHI JHADI, has intensified the problem of floods and land slides. As the dams on the KOSHI, GANDAKI and MAHAKALI rivers built in keeping with the bilateral agreements mainly dominated by Indian interests were built else where instead of being constructed at the meeting point of Tarai and hills, or at Brahachhetra of Koshi, Devghat of Gandaki and Brahmadevmandi of Mahakali. India has criminally assaulted the interests of Nepal while leaving Nepal in troubles but this episode is the joint venture of IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s hegemonic design surely supported by the politicians of Nepal. The Chure forests more or less have been destroyed by India. The landslide in the Chure hills is intensifying.

1. 3.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  CHECK DAMS BY INDIA

India has ensured the protection of life and property of her people by building subject dams close to the border areas, but it seems oblivious of the fact that the same number of people on the Nepal side have had to suffer the loss of life and the property. India pays no heed to the losses on the Nepal side as that has no meaning to her. Having no respect for the international laws, India has constructed the dams to the extent of hurting national integrity of Nepal.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ THE MAJOR DAMS

1. RAUTAHAT (BAGMATI) DAM

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Bagmati is a medium river originating from the Mahabharat range. This very dam built by India across the Bagmati River causes water logging in Nepal. The Check Dam in Bagmati alone has affected 30 VDC s including Bagmati and Bakaiya. The inundation has turned settlements and rolling land in to waste land. The people in the surroundings are compelled to leave their villages and live as refugees. The height of the dam constructed across the border near Bairganiya ranges from 10 to 21 ft. It looks like a hill. Vehicles can run on the top of it. The dam is 10 Km long. It checks all the rivers flowing down to India. Yet another dam with the same height and length has been built in the East along the border of Sarlahi district. The dam runs parallel to the border.

2. DAM AT KUNAULI

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Indians have built a dam in the no-manƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s land at Kunauli of Saptari. About two Kilometer of the no-manƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s land from Rampura Malhaniya to Tilathi VDC has been inundated. The dam forcibly constructed by India, protects Kunauli area, but it inundates some 15-20 villages of Saptari district. The inundation has caused losses to the tune of thousands of millions of rupees to Nepal unilaterally. The dams built across the Koshi & Mahuli Rivers have directed the flow of water towards west instead of South or towards Nepal. Many people there have been turned homeless.

3. MARCHBAR (KHURDLOTAN) DAM

Marchbar lies in the central ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” southern part Rupandehi district. The Tinau River originating from the Mahabharat range of Nepal flows downward to this region. India built the Khurdlotan dam in fiscal year 2001-2002. The dam caused inundation of 18 VDCs including the Lumbini area enlisted in the world heritage.

4. LAXMANPUR DAM

The Rapti river forms through the merger of various rivers originating from the mid-hills. This is an important river jutting out of the Mahabharat range. The Laxmanpur Barrage has been built across this river in Baharaich district near the Nepal border. The high dam across the river has formed a reservoir. The dam has submerged 2,412 bighas of the most fertile land yielding three cropping a year in Banki district.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  More over 16,000 people of the 2600 house holds in 33 villages of five VDCs have been forced to leave their houses and the farmland and are to living as refugees.

5. MAHALISAGAR BUNDH

This bundh is located in the Bundhganga River bordering Kapilbastu district. This dam was constructed during British regime which did not harm any part of Nepal. But to these days India heightened the dam. Over 500 hectares of land, in two VDCs Rampur and Parsaiya of Nepal is under water. Nepali land is being as the reservoir to irrigate Indian farmland.

6. BAJAH SAGAR

At a short distance from Mahalisagar, India has now converted a British regime causeway in to a dam which stores water in Nepal over hundreds of hectares of land of Pipra & Baluwa VDCs which can irrigate 1000 hectares of Indian soil by the Jamuwar rivulet flowing from Nepal.

7. SIWA SAGAR

Siwa Sagar dam is the third side in Kapilbastu district which drowns whole of Hathiwah VDC. Even Nepali farmers bribe the Indian dam operator to lower the check gates of the dam for the sake of protecting their standing crops for a short period. It is a mere display of muscles by a strong vagabond of South Asia i.e. India to a weaker nation like Nepal who being so rich in water resources is on her knees due to her corrupt politicians.

8. INUNDATION OF DODHARA

The water released from the Lohiya power house of India empties in to the Jogbudha River in Kanchanpur district of Nepal. The release of water could be controlled by the human hands but it is done intentionally. This results in the destruction of crops so the farmers go hungry. Their farmland turns in to wasteland due to cutting of the River.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ CONCLUSION

The neighbouring countries which include Bangladesh, Nepal, China, Bhutan & Pakistan think that India alone can not take decision on natural resources of other countries but unless they unite to make a forum to stand against the water terrorism caused by India nothing will stop her to continue a silver aggression.

The actions of India are totally against the international laws, against the accepted behavior and against morality and thus amounting to naked interference in sovereign, independent state of Nepal. On IST April 1990, that at that point of time when Indian Foreign Secretary put a draft proposed to the late King Birendra to have a similar power like the King of Bhutan. King Birendra strongly rejected the proposal saying that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-IT IS PREFERABLE TO BE A POWERLESS KING THAN A POWERFUL KING UNDER INDIAN DOMINATIONƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚