A new report of the Strategic Foresight Group, Rivers of Peace: Restructuring India Bangladesh Relations presents a three dimensional Blue Peace formula to break the impasse over the Teesta River Agreement.

It advocates the signing of the Teesta River Agreement on the basis of equitable sharing of water between Bangladesh and India, a Joint Investment Plan for projects to augment water flow in dry months and diversify subsistence agricultural economy into a more remunerative livelihood economy in the Teesta Basin, and revamping of the Bangladesh India Joint Rivers Commission.

Strategic Foresight Group has presented the report to the Prime Minister�€™s Offices of India and Bangladesh. It is in the process of presenting it to various stakeholders in Dhaka, New Delhi and Kolkata.

Dr Sundeep Waslekar, President of Strategic Foresight Group, said that the Teesta Agreement should be signed immediately on the basis of equitable sharing of water between Bangladesh and India. He added: �€œThe difference between any two formulas for water sharing can be a maximum of 10 billion cubic meters (BCM) which is equal to one per cent of the total annual water flow from India to Bangladesh. Since the two countries have friendly relations, it is unfair to hold back tremendous advantages that can accrue to 250 million people of Bangladesh and West Bengal by signing the agreement.�€

Ms Ilmas Futehally, Executive Director of Strategic Foresight Group, added: �€œAs soon as the Teesta is signed, it will open way for a Joint Investment Plan for the Teesta Basin to augment water flow in the lean period, store flood water during summer for retrieval in dry months, introduce drought resistant crops, install solar power mini water treatment plants, and transform economy of the northern districts of West Bengal and north-western districts of Bangladesh from subsistence agriculture to navigation, eco-tourism, and other high income earning means of livelihood.�€

Ms Futehally expects an inflow of millions of dollars in the Teesta basin through the Joint Investment Plan, for the benefit of its 30 million population, which is mostly poor. She said that besides the Teesta Agreement and the Joint Investment Plan, a proposal to revamp the Bangladesh India Joint Rivers Commission created a three-dimensional Blue Peace framework.

Dr Sundeep Waslekar quipped: �€œThe current Joint Rivers Commission is neither Joint nor a Commission. In its name, there are two parallel national committees with competing national views on managing trans-boundary rivers. As a result, we end up negotiating a separate river treaty independent of the Commission. We need a genuine joint body staffed by a bi-national technical staff, led by a charismatic leader from either country on a rotating basis and engaged in holistic, collaborative and sustainable management of all shared rivers. It should also provide for a well-defined arbitration mechanism.�€

Strategic Foresight Group believes that the time for signing an agreement on Teesta along with other components of the Blue Peace formula is now, despite the apparent uncertainty created by the election period. While it is legally possible for the Government of India to enter into a treaty with the Government of Bangladesh, under Article 73 of the Indian Constitution and Entry 10 and Entry 14 of the Union List, without consulting the Government of West Bengal, it would be much more wise and sustainable to bring all major stakeholders in Bangladesh and India on board. This will make it possible to go beyond an allocation agreement to real cooperation and an era of prosperity and peace in the region.

The Strategic Foresight Group report Rivers of Peace: Restructuring India Bangladesh Relations is a result of hydrological, legal, economic and political research. It particularly gained from India Bangladesh Roundtable in Mumbai in July 2013, which was co-chaired by Dr Tariq Karim, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India and Professor Muchkund Dubey, former Foreign Secretary of India. It was attended by leaders of main political parties from both countries.

To download the full report see: 

http://www.strategicforesight.com/publication_pdf/22345riversofpeace-website.pdf