Contemporary Challenges and Relevance of the Transboundary River Management Regimes in South Asia

Abstract

The presence of transboundary rivers is a prominent feature of South Asia. Major rivers such as the Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra traverse multiple countries, creating complex interdependencies among the riparian nations. However, the transboundary river basin governance mechanisms such as bilateral treaties remain inadequate to manage these resources amid emerging issues such as climate change, glacial retreat, water pollution, groundwater depletion, and rising irrigation demand. At the same time, these treaties remain critical instruments of regional cooperation and cannot be dismissed as obsolete. Against this backdrop, the study examines the relevance and effectiveness of existing bilateral treaties on shared rivers in addressing emerging challenges. A comparative analysis of the major treaties in South Asia reveals that transboundary river management mechanisms often lack critical provisions required to mitigate contemporary issues. Expanding populations, accelerated water withdrawal for irrigation, glacial melt, water pollution, and the over-extraction of water from shared aquifers are some of the pressing challenges that existing treaties do not sufficiently address. Finally, the study recommends incorporating provisions that consider these contemporary issues to enhance governance of transboundary rivers in South Asia effectively. By doing so, riparian countries can better manage shared water resources in South Asia.