Indo-Gangetic River Basins: Summary situation analysis

Abstract

Indo-Gangetic basin, one of the world’s most populous, has emerged during the past 40 years into an intricate mosaic of interactions between man and nature, poverty and prosperity and problems and possibilities. Rapid expansion in agricultural water use is a common theme across these interactions and access to water is central for the livelihoods of the rural poor. Given the diversity of agro-climatic, social and economic conditions in the four riparian countries—Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh—the IGB is clearly one of the most complex river basin systems in the world. Home to the earliest river valley (Indus valley) civilizations as well as the present-day economic dynamism taking off in South Asia, the basin is a study of contrasts and opportunities in all respects. And yet it is ‘water’ that remains the principal driver (or main set of brakes) for development in South Asia. Management of IGB water resources presents some formidable challenges and, therefore, steps must be taken towards integrated management of the IGB’s water and land resources in order to ensure the future sustainability of all production and ecosystems in the basin.