"Flood -control, irrigation hydropower"
India's union water resources minister Saif Uddin Soz speaks to Navin Singh Khadka BBC Nepali Service, 12 September 2008

BBC: Does the Indian government have any long term plans to deal with the Kosi problem?
aif Uddin Soz: We are in touch with the government of Nepal on the Kosi. I will have one to one meeting with Nepal's water resources minister during Prime Minister Prachanda's visit. We are pretty conscious of our duty and we have to correct the situation. It is not that the neglect is inbuilt into the system. Things were very bad in Nepal, we have a treaty with the country and there is no violation of the treaty. We have been waiting for the proper opportunity to settle and sort out things.

But the central government of India and the Bihar state government are engaged in a blame game.
It's not a blame game. The MP of that area, Mrs Ranjan got conscious of this thing. I told her these things are not supposed to be discussed over the phone. I asked her to give me something in writing, and it was at that moment I wrote a letter to the Bihar chief minister Nitesh Kumar. So instead of the chief minister alerting me I was doing the work for him. Sometimes it happens because state governments hands are full and floods come all of a sudden. And water is a state subject, it's not that I can go and interfere and take decisions in Bihar.

Does the Indian central government think that Nepal did not cooperate to prevent this disaster?
No I would not say that. See, Nepal's prime minister is coming. They are very serious about holding talks on Kosi with us. We have a comfortable relation, there is no worry and we shall sort out things. It's a situation that can be dealt with after the monsoon recedes. In the short term we have done whatever we could. The Ganga Commission's chairman and his team is closely in touch with the Bihar government.

There have been reports that Bihar authorities have recommended the central government to push for high dams in Nepal as long term measure.
High dams, embankments, it's going to be a review of the whole thing, not the treaty tough. The treaty is in shape. But on the things that need to be done on the Nepal side and our side, we shall give our minute attention. It has to be tackled in a big way now.

You think the Kosi treaty need not be reviewed but Nepali leaders are saying otherwise.
No, no, Nepal is an independent country. I don't think that treaty needs a fundamental review. But we will have good exchange of ideas. We are not worried what issues they would raise and we shall settle this in a cordial atmosphere.

There is a deep running suspicion among many Nepalis when it comes to India's interest in Nepal's water resources. Do you have any plan to allay that?
There were certain situations with the earlier government, largely they were one sided. We had a treaty, and we wanted to have a good relation with Nepal all the time but it had a different kind of rule. Now there is a democratic process, it's not only the prime minister or water resources minister, there are so many actors in the field. Some of them have extreme opinions others are moderate. But broadly everybody is for good discussion on this issue.

But what are you priority projects now?
Those are matters of detail. There is tremendous advantage to both countries by way of hydropower generation, irrigation and flood management. We are ready to discuss those aspects, there is no worry. We have already taken decisions and we have to implement them honestly.

What decisions have already been taken?
Kosi is in focus this time in particular. Let's see what Nepal wants to discuss with us, I am prepared for that. Our chart of activities is well drawn, there is no difficulty.

What is India's main interest in Nepal's water resources?
Our main interest is flood control and irrigation. Those are our first and second priority. If we get hydroelectricity as by product, that will be a bonus for us.
Courtesy: Nepali Times weekly, 19-25 Sept 2008

Comments on this interview

1. Thapa, Samakhusi
Respected Union Minister of India, Sri Saif Uddin. Namaskar ! Your reply is very much clear & positive. No doubt, we all wish good to happen both side. The Nepali politics over Gandak & Koshi water have been a poorest MASALA ever had in Nepali society. It has not only hurt the sentiments of Nepali & Indians but also created doubts to each other. My request here is, next time when the new treaty or revision over water management takes place, there should be one strong clause to include so that there is no dirty politics over river water going waste from Nepal to India. The clause is: If Nepali party leaders fails to come up with proper solutions to benefit both the countries, then, they should be asked to turn around the rivers towards China or ask them to store some where or manage the water properly or tell them to drink all the water without letting off single drop. Similary the clause should be applicable to Indian politicians if fails to come with good solution. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

2. eat, cake
We need to re-evaluate our position. Everyone seems to think that Nepal is resource starved and that hydroelectricity production is the only way out. The truth is, our main resource is irrigation potential- India is desperate of our water. The Kosi disaster has brough floods to the forefront making it the current primary topic but irrigation is our main bargaining chip in the long term- even the minister said as much, "Our main interest is flood control and irrigation. Those are our first and second priority. If we get hydroelectricity as by product, that will be a bonus for us". Whenever India tries to twist our arm in regards to tariffs on our exports, problems with oil imports, encroachment, or even negotiating power cost deals, we need to know that, ultimately, the power to make or break the deal lies with us. We cannot and must not sell our water rights like we did with the Kosi treaty which stipulated that, "Nepal may, from time to time, use water from the Kosi". We were essentially relegated to requesting water from our own river! Our leaders at the time were fooled (or simply foolish) in thinking that they had worked an equitable deal since the generated power is supposedly shared 50/50. It's all about the water rights folks- if we're going to inundute Nepali territory in order to store up water for irrigating India during the dry winter, this is indeed a service we're providing. And services need to be paid for. And the more valued the service, the more should be paid for it. If India truly wants to help us, forget the ambulances they throw our way. Instead, stop holding up Nepali goods at the border and pay for the water sold to you during the winter. And if India falls back on the position of, "Why should we pay for water- it flows downhill anyway?" we can respond in kind with, "Fine, you want your water flowing down hill? You can have it all during the month of September in one big flood!"

3. Arun Adhikary, adadhikary@stanfordalumni.org
To harness water resources whether it be for power, flood control, irrigation or navigation, we need at least two basic natural resources "inputs". One is the water itself. The other is "GEOGRAPHY". The comparative advantage that Nepal possesses (over India) is the availability of both - i.e. water and geography. The fact that we are applying both these resouces need to be factored in in the process of pricing the final products- i.e. regulated flow and the ensuing agricultural benefits, avoidance of floods and power. Hon Minister (India) has categorically stated that India values flood control, irrigation and power in that order of priority. This is a MAJOR POLICY DEPARTURE from the past. Realization by the Indian side that there are tangible benefits other than hydro-power is an indication of "economic rationale" prevailing over "political bulldoze". How we calculate the various benefits and apportion the costs accordingly is a matter of technical negotiation. We have been subjecting ourselves to "fear psychosis" and resorting to the principle of "no agreement with India can be good agreement". Perhaps we need to build our confidence and engage in dialogues with the Indian side so that we can take advantage its high growth rate.

4. bridohi, ktm
The Indian Water Resource Minister has a long term view stating that flood control & irrigation is a priority. He is not stupid. Likewise, Nepal also needs to look at it from a long-term perspective. Water needs to be treated not just as resource but a commodity. Like OIL today, WATER will be the most precious commodity in next 50-100 years as the Green Revolution is India has depleted the ground water. Heavy industrialization & pollution has made rivers unfit for human consumption. Rising population growth in India will require more potable water. Finally, with global warming, there will be less predicatable water running down the Himalayas due to glacier retreats. It is of utmost importance that while negotiating a revised treaty, Nepal needs to think of water like its oil. Potable drinking water scarcity will be of national security concern for India in the next 50-100 years. Water is needed for irrigation to feed a billion Indians. Without water, nations, civilizations & people perish. This is where we have our leverage--location & resource, just like the Middle East to oil.

5. Pant,Dibakar, US
ertainly,India needs to pay serious attention about the problems created by Koshi and alike issues because it caused and might be caused more humanitarian pains and property danages to India than Nepal.Earlier to Koshi incident,India is found irresponsible and insensible because it could not desert from the attitude of being superior and in its thought it would only harm to Nepal rather than India itself.But,Almighty nature has teached the lesson to India,that is why there is a kind of cumpulsion to rethink its earlier vision and do something to this affects.