India & Neighbourhood

The Teesta River has continued to be a very contentious issue between India and Bangladesh for a variety of complex reasons:

-Unequal Water Sharing: Bangladesh regards the existing formula for sharing water as unjustified because it gets less share of the Teesta particularly in lean season and is sorely hit by it affecting its productivity and livelihood dependent on agriculture.

-Political Hurdles: This issue is so much entwined into both domestic and frames international that this is only engaging in rainy days. West Bengal in India has alone opposed every award made on the sharing of waters claiming pecuniary rights in every droplet of waters that comes into contact with the state. It does not help much.

-Environmental Concerns: Construction of dams and barrages on Teesta River in India appears to have vast opts environmental effects inclusive of tremendous attack on River flow, Biodiversity as well as those living along the course of the river in Bangladesh.

-Lack of Trust: Recalcitrant distrust and political willingness bias between the two countries have, therefore, put paid to any form of democratic dialogues and attendant progressive resolution of these contentious matters.

The Teesta River conflict is a highly complicated one to solve and which has got tremendous political, economical and social effects for India as well as for Bangladesh. Solving the problem, therefore, must be to address the conflict from both perspectives but with reference to equitable utilisation of the share water resources besides the environmental concern of the shared river basin.

1. Economic Consequences

-Trade Facilitation: They decrease tariffs and other trade barriers; this results in the increasing in volume of trade which is a factor of economic activity.
-Example: This paper identifies the role of RCEP in enhancing trade in the Asia-Pacific region.
-Supply Chain Reconfiguration: Applicants noted that agreements lead to diversification and supply chain restructuring to minimize cost and increase productivity.
-Example: Technology and raw material; the US can eliminate its dependence on rival countries by agreeing with the EU.
– Investment Flows: A liberalized trade policy does encourage inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the participating economies.
2. Geopolitical Implications

– Strategic Alliances: The international trade agreements enhance relations while serving as a way of countering power of competing powers.
– Example: The developments with the new trade frameworks in the Indo-Pacific region are meant to counterbalance China.
– Economic Diplomacy: People use agreements to manage bilateral conflicts and improve relations in other spheres such as defense and environmental protection.
-Example: A better deal, USMCA, enhances the business relations between the US, Mexico and Canada as well as helps correct the trade relations imbalances.
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### 3. Sector-Specific Impacts

-Technology and Innovation: There are opportunities in sharing on technology and R & D so as to foster innovation through cooperative agreements.
Example: EU-US cooperation on microchips: Why lack of them could be addressed by agreements on the development of semiconductors.
-Energy Transition: Free trade which mainly represents green technologies standards supports the process of transition to renewable energy all over the world.
– Illustration: European Union green hydrogen deals boost partnership in renewables.
4. Challenges and Risks

– Economic Inequalities: Self sustaining structuralism gives light on how such trade agreements can favor developed economies hence deepening global inequities.
– Domestic Industry Disruption: As much as low tariffs encourage exports, it discouraged imports hence may lead to additional employment in competitive sectors while some sector may loss their employment opportunities to the foreign investors.
– Geopolitical Tensions: Some countries have been left out in the agreements (for example China in the Western based agreements) and this increases geopolitical tensions.

5. Impacts on Global Trade Order

– Changes in trade leadership: For instance, the kind of contracts that today’s emergent powers are entering or the other BRICS endeavors directly undermine the kind of dominance that has for years been set by the West.

– Strengthening regional blocs: The strengthening of regional integration through agreements like AfCFTA can give way to a new set of economic blocs.

India has had a number of shared rivers with its neighboring countries, therefore India could face problems in water sharing or water resources utilizations and disputes in the development of river projects.

Water-Sharing Agreements—

1. Indus Waters Treaty (1960) with Pakistan: This treaty is regarded as significant because it has partitioned the waters of the Indus basin with the two countries India and Pakistan. India currently administers the eastern rivers, Sutlej, Beas, and the Ravi, those provinces are identified as the Punjab province and some parts of Rajasthan while Pakistan administers the western rivers which include the Indus, Jhelum and the Chenab.

2. Treaty relating to sharing of waters of the Ganga (1996) with Bangladesh: This treaty is concerning with the distribution of the waters of Ganga at Farakka during the lean period under the calendar year,Jan.-May. It contemplates the sharing based on a ten-day period formula.

3. Agreements with Nepal: India has several treaties with Nepal on the river projects issue like Kosi and Gandak treaty. These can be associated with the flood prevention and water supply development project.

Working of Agreements——–

1. Indus Waters Treaty: Has proved to be successful for the most part to act as a means of the avoidance of conflict; though there have been a few incidents which created tension including the construction of hydroelectric plants by India.

2. Ganga Water Treaty: Has helped in share water during dry periods but the issue on sustainability of the supply in the long term is problematic especially due to increase in demand for water in both States.

3. Nepal Agreements: By and large, these agreements have proved mixed success. Moments: Some projects have been useful to the society and man kind while some have been time consuming and caused disagreements.

Challenges—–

1. Increasing Water Demand: Increasing populations and achieving better socioeconomic conditions in South Asia are increasing pressures on water resources and compounds competition.

2. Climate Change: Climate change is changing the pattern of precipitation, the rate of glacier melt, river discharge, and other water-related factors that make water management even more challenging.

3. Lack of Trust and Political Will: Politics often play a part and countries lack trust for each other, so cooperation cannot be established and agreements cannot be put into practice.

4. Data Sharing and Monitoring: Inadequate data sharing and monitoring of river flows can create transparency issues and fuel mistrust.

Opportunities———

-Joint River Basin Management: Promoting collaborative management of shared river basins through joint institutions and data sharing mechanisms.
-Sustainable Water Infrastructure: Investing in water-efficient technologies and infrastructure, including rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment.

-Early Warning Systems: Development of and implementation of early warning systems for floods and droughts to mitigate the impact of these disasters.
Regional Cooperation: Encourage regional cooperation on water management through forums such as South Asia Water Initiative.

The allegation against India being a bully in water sharing with Bangladesh has certain realties in it but such matters have a history of complexities behind them. The fact that India has occupied an upstream position on shared rivers gives it a strong bargaining power. Bangladesh, on the other hand, happens to lie downstream and thus, usually comes at the mercy of that power play. That often leads to conflict during times such as drought or flooding, where such water management decisions in India would affect serious consequences on Bangladesh.

But even so, India and Bangladesh have signed a number of bilateral memorandums for cooperation regarding water resources. They haven’t quite resolved matters; rather, India generally cites its own domestic needs, in some of these regions, connected to these rivers-for instance, West Bengal-from having its water management decisions justified.

So, even though Bangladesh’s concerns are pretty valid, the entire picture is not one-sided. The two countries must sit together and evolve means, which would result in sustainable solutions to meet the needs of both populations.

Through the implementation and approaches of India’s NFPR recent policies with neighbors have demonstrated connectivity, security, and mutual economic cooperation development. The main initiatives are 1. Infrastructure and Connectivity: India is consistently in the process of upgrading cross-border connectivity and transport links especially with; Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. This includes rail, and road transport inter-connecting and water ways that lead to regional integration.

2. Economic Partnerships: India has even upgraded the status of the LOCs with the neighbouring countries. Energy, infrastructure and health sectors have been funded through projects. It plays an active role in promoting commerce and business through the regional organization in South Asia including SAARC and BIMSTEC.

3. Security and Counterterrorism: Though India cooperates with the neighbors pays special consideration to all issues- starting from terrorism to the problem of illicit migration and smuggling- with neighbors, especially with Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh etc. It’s preferential in border infrastructure development particularly in improving standards of the border facilities.

4. China and Pakistan Relations: With Pakistan, it’s merely superficial over matter of terrorism, but with China we have territorial conflict coupled with harmony.

5. Developmental Aid: During the recent economic crisis situation in Sri Lanka and making relations with Maldives are the indication of that how the India is more https://www.lawctopus.com/academics-in-india-who-is-the-real-mover/shapers-in-determining-final-international-affairs-matters/ concentrated in regional. These will be beneficial in making India into a regional power while promoting good order and prosperity of nations.

All these strategies are directed at creating India as a regional power, and at the same time, to secure the co-prosperity.