International regimes for effective and equitable management and use of water resources

Abstract

Due to a variety of reasons, water resources on the globe are becoming more and more scarce. The degree of water scarcity and its political, economic, and social implications are felt much more severely in regions like the Middle East. The management and utilization of the waters of river basins there have been, and still are, sources of tension among the riparians. The Euphrates-Tigris river basin is one of them and the likelihood of a serious conflict is said to be much greater because of the obstinate claims of the downstream riparians that cannot be met by the upstream riparian. It is therefore assumed that unless cooperation is achieved among the riparians in the field of management, allocation and utilization of the waters of the Euphrates-Tigris river basin, growing water scarcity may not only result in conflicts among the ripeirians, but may also result in further devastation of an extremely vital resource like water. Hence, in order to promote cooperation among the riparians, formation of a region-specific regime framework is suggested. Water has become the subject matter of lengthy deliberations in international conferences all over the world with the participation of experts and scholars. Similarly, water has entered the agenda of international law. These formal and informal meetings have shaped the general principles and norms of using and managing water resources effectively and equitably. Hence, references are made to the proceedings of the international conferences and the documentation of the international water law, with a view to putting forward the original principles, norms, rules and decision-making procedures of the region-specific regime suggested for better management and utilization of the waters of the Euphrates-Tigris river basin. Because the suggested regime is required to conform to the geographical and hydrological characteristics of the river basin as well as the hydropolitical history of the region, these matters are discussed by and large.