From K. J. Joy, Suhas Paranjape and Shruti Vispute, Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India, Pune
Posted 16 September 2008

We work with the Society for Promoting Participative Ecosystem Management (SOPPECOM). We have been part of the Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India which is a collaborative initiative of many institutions/organizations – both academic and civil society – and individuals. The Forum has documented conflicts and published these in the form of a book “Water Conflicts in India: A Million Revolts in the Making” (more details about the forum are available at http://conflicts.indiawaterportal.org).

The current floods in Bihar have seen conflicts over scarce resources at many levels, including between India and Nepal. This is not the first time floods have provoked conflicts (more details are available at http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/environment/resource/res15090801.doc (doc, Size: 33 KB).

The issues of conflicts and floods have been discussed earlier on the Water Community. Members responded very enthusiastically to a recent query concerning the floods in Bihar, dealing with water purification techniques and the Bihar floods. The consolidated reply is available at http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/drm/cr/cr-se-drm-wes-01090801-fullcr.pdf (PDF, Size: 367 KB). In 2005, a query on water conflicts between rural and urban areas and competing water claims and conflicts also drew a good response. The Consolidated Reply is available at http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/en/cr/cr-se-wes-global-18120501.htm.

We request members to share their experiences and insights on the issue of conflicts around floods, specifically on:

• In what are the cases have floods provoked conflicts. Please give details of the location, the reasons (including the very simple, obvious, proximate to more complex and long term reasons), conflicting parties, issues at stake, what has been done to mitigate, present status, etc.?
• What is the definition of “stakeholders” in each conflict situation, including the specific roles for each?
• We would also like members to share cases of successful resolution or mitigation of conflicts, so we can use them as lessons to incorporate as part of the wider strategy for resolution and prevention.

Please see attachment below for the responses.