The interim government has taken the initiative to update the Water Policy enacted in 1999, which deserves praise. Considering the time, the Water Policy enacted in 1999 was a very timely initiative. Through this policy, a commitment was made to make the development, planning, and management of water resources within Bangladesh efficient, equitable, and environmentally balanced in the light of basin-based sustainable development. From that perspective, this policy was ahead of its time, as neither the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals nor the Sustainable Development Goals had been formulated then.
Another goal of the Water Policy (1999) was to achieve poverty alleviation, food security, and economic development through the development, use, and management of all surface and groundwater. The objective of bringing about institutional reform through the inclusive participation of local people in water resource management was also expressed. In addition, the intention to establish cooperation in water pollution control, environmental conservation, and transboundary river resources was stated.
Reality speaks a completely different story. In the last 27 years, the above objectives have not been reflected in any plan or project related to water resources in Bangladesh. For example, apart from the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty signed between India and Bangladesh in 1996, no other water-silt sharing treaty or understanding regarding transboundary rivers has been signed. Despite the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, Bangladesh did not receive its fair share 56% of the time during the 1996-2016 period.
Projects taken internally, such as the Delta Plan 2100, the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project or Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Recovery Plan, highways in Haors, Haor Master Plan, or coastal polder construction projects are not balanced. No institutional reform has been brought about through the participation of local people in water resource development projects. Almost no river in the country is free from encroachment and pollution.
In the proposal to update Bangladesh’s National Water Policy (1999) in 2025, new elements have been added considering the impact of climate change and tackling the water crisis. Emphasis has been placed on Sustainable Development Goals, climate rehabilitation, and identifying critical areas for groundwater. This addition and expansion in light of the changing climate in current times is a timely step. Moreover, the decision to declare the Barind region as a critical area to prevent excessive use of groundwater deserves praise. Additionally, paying extra for ecological services of water resources and committed water management have been mentioned. If these decisions remain confined to paper like in the past, it will be of little benefit.
If the laws formulated based on the policy are not properly implemented, it will bring no benefit to the people and the environment/ecology of the country. Moreover, if extra taxes are imposed on the people in the name of setting prices for ecological services, this policy will not be inclusive for the poor population and will be considered a preliminary step towards the privatization of the water sector.
There are some other weaknesses in the proposed updated water policy. For instance, adequate emphasis has not been placed on the impact of climate change, arsenic contamination, and industrial-agricultural pollution in the proposed policy.
In the existing legal framework regarding water resources, such as the Water Act of 2013, water rights have not been recognized as a human right, and no commitment or directive to enact a pristine water act or safe drinking water act has been included in the proposed water policy.
Furthermore, to enrich the proposed water policy further, a commitment could have been made to make water diplomacy a part of the water policy to reach long-term agreements on water and silt of all transboundary rivers, considering climate risks. A policy to digitally publish the quantity and quality of surface water flow to the public 24/7 could have been adopted. There should have been a commitment to increase public participation by empowering local governments and strictly implementing the ‘polluter pays’ principle.
The initiative to update the proposed water policy is praiseworthy and is much more timely compared to the 1999 water policy. However, if national aspirations can be fulfilled through further amendments and additions in light of reality, the people and the environment-ecology will benefit.
Dr. Md. Khalequzzaman
Professor, Geology and Environmental Science
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, USA
Global Coordinator, Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN)
The information presented here is an English adaptation based on the report published on The Daily Samakal.
