Transboundary rivers cross or form boundaries between two or more countries. As a geographically diverse country, India shares numerous transboundary rivers with its neighbouring countries. These rivers play a crucial role in the region’s ecology, economy, and geopolitics. Read here to learn more.
There was concern that the floods in eastern districts of Bangladesh were caused due to the opening of the Dumbur dam in Tripura.
However, the Indian government has clarified that the flooding is caused by heavy rainfall in the larger catchment areas of the Gumti River, which flows through both nations, rather than the dam’s water release.
This sheds light on the significance of transboundary rivers in environmental aspects of geopolitics.
Read: Major Rivers of the World
Transboundary rivers of India
Indus River System
- Countries Involved: India, Pakistan, China, Afghanistan
- Key Rivers: Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej
- Details: The Indus River originates in Tibet, China, and flows through India before entering Pakistan, where it is the lifeline of the country. The Indus Water Treaty, signed in 1960, governs the water-sharing rights between India and Pakistan.
Ganges (Ganga) River System
- Countries Involved: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, China
- Key Rivers: Ganges, Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi
- Details: The Ganges River, one of the most significant rivers in India, originates in the Himalayas and flows through India and Bangladesh. The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) basin is shared by India and Bangladesh, with several agreements in place for water sharing.
Brahmaputra River System
- Countries Involved: India, China, Bangladesh, Bhutan
- Key Rivers: Brahmaputra, Manas, Subansiri, Teesta
- Details: The Brahmaputra originates in Tibet, China (where it is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo), and enters India through Arunachal Pradesh, flowing through Assam before entering Bangladesh. The river is crucial for the water supply and agriculture in the northeastern region of India and Bangladesh.
Barak River System
- Countries Involved: India, Bangladesh, Myanmar
- Key Rivers: Barak, Surma, Kushiyara
- Details: The Barak River originates in the northeastern state of Manipur, India, and splits into the Surma and Kushiyara rivers in Bangladesh. The river system is vital for both countries’ agriculture and water resources.
Sutlej River
- Countries Involved: India, Pakistan, China
- Details: The Sutlej River originates in Tibet, China, and flows through India and Pakistan. It is part of the Indus River system and is governed by the Indus Water Treaty.
Read: Major river systems in India
India-Bangladesh transboundary rivers
India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers, with India having the most rivers flowing into the Bay of Bengal via Bangladesh.
- Ganges River (Padma in Bangladesh)
- Origin and Course: The Ganges originates in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and flows southeast through India before entering Bangladesh, where it is known as the Padma.
- Treaty: The Ganges Water Treaty, signed in 1996, governs the sharing of waters between the two countries, ensuring a fair distribution during the dry season.
- Brahmaputra River (Jamuna in Bangladesh)
- Origin and Course: The Brahmaputra originates in Tibet as the Yarlung Tsangpo enters India through Arunachal Pradesh, and flows into Bangladesh, where it is called the Jamuna.
- Concerns: Flooding, sedimentation, and water sharing during the lean season are major concerns. The river is crucial for both countries’ agriculture and water security.
- Teesta River
- Origin and Course: The Teesta flows from the eastern Himalayas in the Indian state of Sikkim through West Bengal and enters Bangladesh.
- Water Dispute: The Teesta water-sharing issue remains unresolved, with negotiations ongoing to determine equitable distribution.
- Meghna River
- Origin and Course: The Meghna is formed by the confluence of the Surma and Kushiyara rivers in Bangladesh and is one of the major rivers of the country.
- Importance: It plays a vital role in the ecosystem and livelihoods of the region, with fisheries and navigation being key activities.
- Barak River (Surma-Kushiyara System)
- Origin and Course: The Barak River originates in India’s Manipur state and splits into the Surma and Kushiyara rivers when it enters Bangladesh.
- Basin Management: Both countries are involved in managing the basin for flood control, irrigation, and navigation.
- Feni River
- Origin and Course: The Feni River flows from the Indian state of Tripura into Bangladesh.
- Treaty: A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2019 to allow India to withdraw water from the Feni River for drinking water supply in Tripura.
- Torsa, Jaldhaka, and Raidak Rivers
- Origin and Course: These rivers originate in Bhutan, flow through the Indian state of West Bengal, and enter Bangladesh.
- Usage: These rivers are important for agriculture, particularly in West Bengal and the northern districts of Bangladesh.
- Karnaphuli River
- Countries Involved: India, Bangladesh
- Details: The Karnaphuli River originates in the Indian state of Mizoram and flows into Bangladesh, where it is a crucial waterway for the port city of Chittagong.
- Mahanadi River
- Countries Involved: India, Bangladesh
- Details: The Mahanadi River, though primarily flowing through India, affects water resources in Bangladesh, especially during the monsoon season.
India-Nepal transboundary rivers
- Kosi River
- Origin: The Kosi River originates in Tibet (China) and flows through Nepal before entering India. It is one of the largest tributaries of the Ganges River.
- Significance: Known as the “Sorrow of Bihar” due to frequent flooding, the Kosi River is critical for agriculture but also poses challenges due to its shifting course and sediment load.
- Bilateral Cooperation: The Kosi Agreement (1954) between India and Nepal aims to manage flood control and irrigation, and includes the construction of the Kosi Barrage.
- Gandak River
- Origin: The Gandak River originates from the Himalayas in Nepal and enters India, where it is known as the Gandak or Narayani River.
- Significance: It is a major source of irrigation for both Nepal and India, particularly in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
- Bilateral Cooperation: The Gandak Agreement (1959) governs the construction and management of the Gandak Barrage, which helps in irrigation and flood control.
- Mahakali (Sharda) River
- Origin: The Mahakali River, also known as the Sharda River in India, originates from the Himalayas and forms part of the western boundary between India and Nepal.
- Significance: It is used for irrigation and hydropower, with the Tanakpur Barrage being a key infrastructure on the river.
- Bilateral Cooperation: The Mahakali Treaty (1996) focuses on the integrated development of water resources, including the construction of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project.
- Rapti River
- Origin: The Rapti River originates in the Nepalese Himalayas and flows into the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
- Significance: It plays a crucial role in the irrigation of the Terai region in Nepal and parts of Uttar Pradesh.
- Challenges: The river is prone to seasonal flooding, impacting agricultural activities in both countries.
- Karnali (Ghaghara) River
- Origin: The Karnali River, known as the Ghaghara in India, is the longest river in Nepal and one of the major tributaries of the Ganges.
- Significance: It is vital for irrigation and hydropower generation in both Nepal and India.
- Challenges: The river is characterized by its high sediment load and is prone to flooding during the monsoon season.
- Bagmati River
- Origin: The Bagmati River originates from the Shivapuri Hills in Nepal and flows through the Kathmandu Valley before entering India.
- Significance: It is culturally significant in Nepal, passing through the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, and is also important for irrigation in both countries.
- Challenges: Pollution is a major issue, particularly in the urban areas of Nepal.
- Kamala River
- Origin: The Kamala River originates in the Mahabharat Range of Nepal and flows into Bihar, India.
- Significance: It is an important source of water for agriculture in the Terai region of Nepal and northern Bihar.
- Challenges: The river is prone to seasonal flooding, causing damage to crops and infrastructure.
India-Pakistan transboundary rivers
- Indus River
- Origin: The Indus River originates in the Tibetan Plateau near Lake Mansarovar and flows through the Ladakh region of India, into Pakistan, and finally empties into the Arabian Sea near Karachi.
- Significance: It is one of the longest rivers in the world and provides water resources for agriculture, drinking, and industrial purposes for millions of people in both countries.
- Jhelum River
- Origin: The Jhelum River originates in the Indian-administered region of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Flow: It flows through the Kashmir Valley before entering Pakistan-administered Kashmir and eventually merging with the Chenab River.
- Significance: The river is vital for both countries, particularly in the context of hydroelectric projects and irrigation.
- Chenab River
- Origin: The Chenab River originates in the upper Himalayas in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, India.
- Flow: It flows through Jammu and Kashmir, enters Pakistan, and eventually joins the Sutlej River.
- Significance: The Chenab is essential for irrigation, particularly in the Punjab region of Pakistan, which is known as the “breadbasket” of the country.
- Ravi River
- Origin: The Ravi River originates in the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh, India.
- Flow: It flows along the India-Pakistan border before entering Pakistan’s Punjab province.
- Significance: Under the Indus Waters Treaty, India has control over the waters of the Ravi River for its use, primarily for irrigation and other agricultural activities.
- Sutlej River
- Origin: The Sutlej River originates near Mount Kailash in Tibet.
- Flow: It flows through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in India, and then into Pakistan, where it merges with the Chenab River to form the Panjnad River before joining the Indus River.
- Significance: The Sutlej is crucial for both India and Pakistan, particularly for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation.
- Beas River
- Origin: The Beas River originates in the Himalayas in central Himachal Pradesh, India.
- Flow: It flows entirely within India and merges with the Sutlej River near the Harike Barrage in Punjab.
- Significance: Although the Beas does not cross into Pakistan, its waters contribute to the Sutlej River, affecting the water availability downstream in Pakistan.
India-China transboundary rivers
- Brahmaputra River (Yarlung Tsangpo)
- Origin: The Brahmaputra River originates from the Angsi Glacier in Tibet, where it is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo.
- Course: It flows eastwards across Tibet and then turns southward to enter India through the Arunachal Pradesh region, where it is known as the Siang or Dihang River. Further downstream, it becomes the Brahmaputra in Assam.
- Significance: The Brahmaputra is one of the major rivers in India, crucial for agriculture, irrigation, and hydropower in northeastern India. It is also prone to severe flooding during the monsoon season.
- Disputes: There have been concerns over China’s construction of dams and water diversion projects on the Yarlung Tsangpo, which could potentially affect the water flow downstream into India.
- Sutlej River (Langqên Zangbo)
- Origin: The Sutlej River originates from Lake Rakshastal in Tibet.
- Course: The river flows westward through the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab before entering Pakistan.
- Significance: The Sutlej is a vital river for irrigation in the northwestern part of India, especially in Punjab. It is a part of the Indus River system and is governed by the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan.
- Disputes: There are concerns over China’s plans to divert the waters of the Sutlej through its dams and water projects, although these remain speculative.
- Indus River
- Origin: The Indus River originates in the Tibetan Plateau near Lake Mansarovar.
- Course: It flows northwest through the Ladakh region in India before entering Pakistan, where it is the primary river system.
- Significance: The Indus is crucial for water supply in the region and supports agriculture in Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty.
- Disputes: Like other transboundary rivers, there are concerns about Chinese activities in the upper reaches of the Indus, although no significant projects have been reported.
- Subansiri River
- Origin: The Subansiri River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, originates in Tibet.
- Course: It flows into Arunachal Pradesh in India and joins the Brahmaputra River.
- Significance: The Subansiri is important for hydropower generation in northeastern India. The construction of the Subansiri Lower Dam has been a significant development on this river.
- Disputes: The dam project has been controversial due to environmental concerns and potential downstream impacts.
- Karnali (Ghaghara) River
- Origin: The Karnali River, known as the Ghaghara in India, originates in the Tibetan Plateau.
- Course: It flows south into Nepal and then into the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, where it joins the Ganges River.
- Significance: The Karnali is a major river system in Nepal and northern India, crucial for agriculture and livelihoods in the region.
- Disputes: While primarily shared between Nepal and India, China’s activities in the upper reaches in Tibet have potential implications for water flow.
- Lohit River
- Origin: The Lohit River originates in eastern Tibet.
- Course: It flows through Arunachal Pradesh in India and joins the Brahmaputra River.
- Significance: The Lohit is a significant tributary of the Brahmaputra, contributing to the overall water flow and ecosystem in northeastern India.
- Disputes: As with other rivers originating in Tibet, concerns over upstream Chinese activities are present, although no major disputes have been reported.
Conclusion
These rivers are vital for the livelihoods of millions of people and are often subjects of international treaties and agreements to ensure equitable water sharing and cooperation between countries. The management of these rivers requires careful diplomacy and collaboration to avoid conflicts and ensure sustainable use of resources.
-Article by Swathi Satish
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