Linking rivers in the Ganges-Brahmaputra River Basin: exploring the transboundary effects

The following paper explores the possible inter-linkage of the Ganges and Brahmaputra River Basin and analyzes its effect on future water allocation between the upstream country, India, and the downstream country, Bangladesh. We find that water transfer from the Brahmaputra River could be mutually b...

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Main Authors: Bhaduri, Anik, Barbier, Bruno
Format: Conference Paper
Language:Inglés
Published: 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/38131
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author Bhaduri, Anik
Barbier, Bruno
author_browse Barbier, Bruno
Bhaduri, Anik
author_facet Bhaduri, Anik
Barbier, Bruno
author_sort Bhaduri, Anik
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The following paper explores the possible inter-linkage of the Ganges and Brahmaputra River Basin and analyzes its effect on future water allocation between the upstream country, India, and the downstream country, Bangladesh. We find that water transfer from the Brahmaputra River could be mutually beneficial for both countries. However, the only possible motivation for the richer upstream country, India, to agree to transfer water to the poorer downstream country, Bangladesh, is political altruism. Using a political economy model we find that, if there is a good political relationship between India and Bangladesh, then India could be altruistic toward Bangladesh and transfer more water downstream. Changes in political altruism factor, however, could entice India to exercise unilateral diversion, in which case simulations predict that Bangladesh would incur large environmental damages. Political uncertainty may also result in unilateral diversion of water by India, and could prevent agreement on water transfers from the Brahmaputra. We therefore explore the conditions under which Bangladesh could accept an Indian proposal to transfer water from Brahmaputra, despite political uncertainty.
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spelling CGSpace381312025-11-07T08:36:15Z Linking rivers in the Ganges-Brahmaputra River Basin: exploring the transboundary effects Bhaduri, Anik Barbier, Bruno river basin management river basin development development projects international cooperation water transfer water allocation planning flow simulation models computer software environmental effects risks The following paper explores the possible inter-linkage of the Ganges and Brahmaputra River Basin and analyzes its effect on future water allocation between the upstream country, India, and the downstream country, Bangladesh. We find that water transfer from the Brahmaputra River could be mutually beneficial for both countries. However, the only possible motivation for the richer upstream country, India, to agree to transfer water to the poorer downstream country, Bangladesh, is political altruism. Using a political economy model we find that, if there is a good political relationship between India and Bangladesh, then India could be altruistic toward Bangladesh and transfer more water downstream. Changes in political altruism factor, however, could entice India to exercise unilateral diversion, in which case simulations predict that Bangladesh would incur large environmental damages. Political uncertainty may also result in unilateral diversion of water by India, and could prevent agreement on water transfers from the Brahmaputra. We therefore explore the conditions under which Bangladesh could accept an Indian proposal to transfer water from Brahmaputra, despite political uncertainty. 2008 2014-06-13T11:40:47Z 2014-06-13T11:40:47Z Conference Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/38131 en Open Access application/pdf Bhaduri, Anik; Barbier, E. 2008. Linking rivers in the Ganges-Brahmaputra River Basin: exploring the transboundary effects. In Amarasinghe, Upali A.; Sharma, Bharat R. (Eds.) Strategic Analyses of the National River Linking Project (NRLP) of India, Series 2. Proceedings of the Workshop on Analyses of Hydrological, Social and Ecological Issues of the NRLP, New Delhi, India, 9-10 October 2007. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) pp.373-395.
spellingShingle river basin management
river basin development
development projects
international cooperation
water transfer
water allocation
planning
flow
simulation models
computer software
environmental effects
risks
Bhaduri, Anik
Barbier, Bruno
Linking rivers in the Ganges-Brahmaputra River Basin: exploring the transboundary effects
title Linking rivers in the Ganges-Brahmaputra River Basin: exploring the transboundary effects
title_full Linking rivers in the Ganges-Brahmaputra River Basin: exploring the transboundary effects
title_fullStr Linking rivers in the Ganges-Brahmaputra River Basin: exploring the transboundary effects
title_full_unstemmed Linking rivers in the Ganges-Brahmaputra River Basin: exploring the transboundary effects
title_short Linking rivers in the Ganges-Brahmaputra River Basin: exploring the transboundary effects
title_sort linking rivers in the ganges brahmaputra river basin exploring the transboundary effects
topic river basin management
river basin development
development projects
international cooperation
water transfer
water allocation
planning
flow
simulation models
computer software
environmental effects
risks
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/38131
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