DEVELOPMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IN SOUTH ASIA

This comprehensive analysis examines the development and management of water resources across South Asia during the mid-1980s, focusing on the complex interplay of technical, political, and environmental factors in regional water governance. The article explores the hydrological characteristics of major river systems in South Asia, including the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin, Indus system, and other transboundary waterways. The research investigates national water development strategies in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and other South Asian countries, analyzing their approaches to irrigation, flood control, hydropower, and drinking water supply. The study examines regional cooperation mechanisms for water resource management and assesses the challenges of transboundary water sharing in a context of competing national interests and historical tensions. The article also evaluates the environmental and social impacts of large-scale water development projects and proposes frameworks for sustainable and cooperative water resource management in the region.

Water resource development represents one of the most critical and contentious issues in South Asia, with this article providing a comprehensive analysis of regional water management challenges and opportunities during the mid-1980s. The research begins by examining the hydrological context of South Asia, analyzing the unique characteristics of major river systems that transcend national boundaries and create complex interdependencies among riparian states. The analysis explores national water development strategies across the region, investigating how different countries approach irrigation expansion, flood control, hydropower generation, and drinking water provision within their specific geographical and political contexts. The article examines transboundary water issues, analyzing historical disputes over river sharing, existing treaty arrangements, and ongoing negotiations for cooperative water management. The study investigates the technical dimensions of water resource development, assessing large-scale irrigation projects, dam constructions, groundwater exploitation, and watershed management initiatives across different South Asian countries. The research evaluates the institutional frameworks for water governance, examining the roles of national water agencies, river basin organizations, and international cooperation mechanisms in managing shared water resources. Based on the comprehensive assessment, the article develops a framework for sustainable water resource management that balances national development needs with regional cooperation imperatives. The findings provide valuable insights into one of the most pressing regional challenges and contribute to understanding how shared natural resources can be managed for mutual benefit in complex political environments.