Environmental Challenges And Legal Responses:Toward Integrated Water Resources Management And Law In Indus River Basin

Water is a vital resource for human survival and economic development,but with a swiftly expanding global population and a rise in social-economic living standards,the demand for water in various sectors increases yearly.Due to climate change and land use changes,the availability of water resources remains constant or tends to decline.Freshwater water is a scarce and essential resource for human survival,and its governance has become a critical issue,especially in transboundary river basins.International river basins globally are threatened by over-extraction,pollution,damming,and infrastructural if left unaddressed;the pressure on the international river basins,as riparian states compete for their limited supplies,will only exacerbate any chances of freshwater disputes between them.With physical challenges,water management and institutional issues are also rising,with far-reaching socio-economic and environmental repercussions.Integrated Water Resources Management(IWRM),which requires integrating institutions,laws and regulations,coordination,investment,and financial resources based on the participation of water users,planners,and decision-makers,is a viable solution to these water issues.The Indus River originates in the Himalayas and flows through all four countries before emptying into the Arabian Sea,is the region’s lifeline,providing water for irrigation,drinking,and hydropower generation.Initially,this thesis explores the complex and pressing issues surrounding the Indus River’s water usage,including environmental threats such as climate change,water scarcity,and pollution.Controversies have arisen due to infrastructural development and damming activities,leading to tensions between neighbouring countries.Moreover,diminishing environmental flows and groundwater quality and quantity pose significant challenges.With an aging treaty and growing population,it is imperative to find solutions that address the needs of all stakeholders.Further,it will examine the challenges and opportunities related to transboundary water governance in the Indus River Basin.The Indus Water Treaty(IWT)signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan is considered one of the world’s most successful transboundary water treaties.This paper comprehensively evaluates transboundary water governance’s historical,legal,and procedural framework in the Indus River Basin.It analyzes the substantive and procedural rules of the treaty,including dispute resolution mechanisms and the role of the Permanent Indus Commission.However,there are concerns that the IWT may not be able to adequately address the growing water stress in the region,particularly in light of the changing climate.The paper highlights the treaty’s contemporary challenges and issues,such as climatic variability,groundwater management,absence of environmental flows,differences over water utilization,lack of regular data sharing,and absence of collaboration and mutual trust.The study examines the potential benefits of Integrated Water Resources Management(IWRM)in the Indus River Basin.The study proposes an Integrated River Resources Framework as a way forward and discusses the necessary policy and legal framework,institutional framework,and management strategies required to successfully implement IWRM in the Indus River Basin.Under these circumstances,the study also explores the potential of international water laws in achieving integrated Indus Basin management.The Helsinki Rules,UN Watercourses Convention,Berlin Rules,and UNECE Water Convention are examined in detail to analyze international water law comprehensively.The thesis employs a legal and qualitative research methodology and reviews existing literature.The study highlights the need for a collaborative approach among the riparian states to address the emerging challenges in the basin and recommends the adoption of IWRM principles for the sustainable management of Indus water resources.Overall,this dissertation offers a comprehensive analysis of the Indus River Basin’s associated threats and water management,providing insights into the challenges and opportunities for sustainable management and offering recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders to work collaboratively toward integrated water resources management.This dissertation’s significance lies in its contribution to the global water discourse and the Indus River Basin’s specific context.This study contributes to the literature on transboundary water governance,international water law,and integrated water resources management,providing a valuable resource for policymakers,researchers,and practitioners interested in water management,governance,and sustainability.