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Ravi Prakash Varma
MP, Kheri Lok Sabha constituency, Uttar Pradesh |
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Ravi Prakash Varma is the most opinionated amongst the current MPs. A Samajwadi Party MP, representing Kheri Lok Sabha constituency of Uttar Pradesh he is aware of the strategic harm that can be caused to India by rivers originating from Nepal. He says that the Indo-Pak conflict is essentially a water conflict. In the same breath he concludes, instead of going for expensive nuclear energy, India must look for ways to utilize hydro energy potential.
Here are his interesting views on water in India.
The Tarai region was once amongst the water rich areas of the country. Why is it facing water shortage these days?
The recharging bed of Tarai region is in Nepal. This area after continuous tree felling has little forest cover today. Nepal administration has cleared forests and reclaimed land to counter Maoists, who took shelter in forests. Nepal has also diverted water, cutting down wet lands. It has brought huge silt in our rivers. We receive water in a larger quantity from Nepal today than we did earlier. For instance, a river with carrying capacity of 3 lakhs cusec today holds more than 10 lakhs cusec of water and silt.
It has changed the contours of our rivers. Water spills over instead of remaining in the river.
Earlier there was sustained release of water from rivers of Nepal. We use to receive water throughout the year in reasonable and manageable quantity. Today, water release has become unreliable. After rainfall, rivers become dry up at several places.
If river does not hold enough water, it can affect agriculture. Our cropping pattern requires a change then.
Absolutely! We should know how much water is available to grow crops. We require water management and careful crop selection.
In fact, our present practices have also contributed to it. We made drains at water logging locations which destroyed recharging. Hydrological Survey of India has declared two blocks in my district as Dark Zones, indicating unmanageable lowering of water table. Farmers in these blocks are not given power connection for irrigation.
I have advocated that we should take into account water and irrigation status while formulating food policy.
We often talk about water availability and ignore potable water. Is water in your area potable?
Water in my area has high arsenic content, causing various diseases of skin, eye and stomach. Nepal rivers bring raw arsenic and cause continuous poisoning of water. We launched a major campaign against it to make people aware.
We have de-silted old ponds by digging their silt out. A detailed plan of recharging ground water is being undertaken.
What is the level of awareness in parliament about water problems in Tarai area?
Well, water is being diverted from Nepal. The problem it creates is not only in my district, it's prevailing over all border areas from Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar up to Arunachal Pradesh. We organized a debate where several MPs participated and discussed the issue. Yesterday, I raised this issue in parliament demanding for construction of check dams at the border.
In fact, Nepal changed the course of its rivers without informing India or taking Indian government into confidence. This move of Nepal is highly tactical. China is helping Nepal managing its rivers. It has strategic implications for India. If Nepal releases sudden water, it would submerge entire area destroying habitats, farm lands, Dudhwa national park and railway lines.
Will it convert into a water conflict like that of between India and Pakistan or India and Bangladesh?
Absolutely! Take India and Pakistan. Their entire conflict is solely a water conflict. Punjab is the agriculture rich area of Pakistan. It receives maximum water from India. Punjab also sends chief political and military leaders to Pakistan.
Kashmir is the source of water. If Kashmir stops giving them water, Punjab would dry up. Kashmir thus takes centre stage in Indo Pak dialogue.
Water has become an international issue. Countries are eyeing on acquiring maximum water resources.
That's true. It's really unfortunate that India ignores its water resources. Take the Indo-US Nuclear Deal. Our government highlights need of nuclear energy as the source of power but it ignores vast hydro power potential lying within India. Instead of going for this deal, we should opt for indigenous hydro power.
But, we need nuclear energy as well. Our nuclear reactors may soon run short of uranium fuel to produce power. This Deal may enhance our total power production by 40000MW. Under this deal, USA promises to work to modify NSG guidelines and lift current restrictions on uranium supply to India. Countries like Australia and France have already expressed desire to initiate nuclear trade with India.
Why do we forget that this uranium is not supplied to India free of cost? We have to pay huge amount to receive uranium. With this amount, better hydro-electric stations can be set up in India, which utilize local water potential and are cheaper and reasonable.
What can be the possible impact on environment once rivers dry up?
It can aggravate climatic variations and weather extremes causing sudden summer and winters. Crops may be damaged, ecological pattern can be disturbed besides causing loss of government revenue by up to 13%.
Agriculture practices may get disrupted by shortage of water. Agrarian society must start harvesting water; else it would not be left with enough water to survive.
I once spoke in the parliament about the spread of the Rajasthan desert. In Babarnama, rhinoceros hunting near Peshawar is mentioned. We all know rhinoceros live in muddy wet lands. If that was the condition some 500 years before, how do we have sprawling desert there today. It indicates desert is not an eternal phenomenon; it was not always present. On the contrary, desert has been formed and is spreading. Since we are not using water resources properly, it has taken us to this level.
Living standards of any region is determined by the level of ground water table. If we do not utilize water properly, we may face dark future ahead.
Interview by: Ashutosh Bharadwaj, IndianNGOs.com
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