CWC red-flags move on India-Australia cooperation on Ganga

A proposal to involve Australia for Ganga rejuvenation may lead to leakage of data over Ganga River basin to India's neighbouring countries. Expressing such apprehensions, the Central Water Commission (CWC) has red-flagged a move to include Ganga rejuvenation, especially development of Ganga river basin model, as an important area of India-Australia bilateral co-operation.

Prime minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Australia, the first by an Indian PM in 28 years, last being in 1986 by the then PM Rajiv Gandhi. Intrestingly, as per sources, the move comes even when "Ganga rejuvenation was never part of India-Australia bilateral agreement on co-operation in water resources signed in 2009 and renewed in September 2014".

Ganga rejuvenation is a dream project of NDA government and the PM Narendra Modi himself. Modi's visit also comes within three months of Australian PM Tony Abbott's India tour.

Chairman of CWC, which is India's apex technical organisation in the field of water resources, has sent a note opposing the move to union water resources ministry headed by BJP leader Uma Bharti. Some officials also believe the move could put India's water security at stake.

The proposed co-operation in Ganga rejuvenation between India and Australia would involve Australia helping in preparation of Ganga River Basin master plan and model, development of hydrological cloud, sharing of data among other things like envisaging study tours to Australia.

The CWC chairman has objected to the proposd co-operation stating in his note that: "As far as activities related to development of river basin model at the basin for basin planning and management is concerned, it will create a difficult situation as multiple states as well as countries like Bangladesh and Nepal get involved. In case the study is carried out under Australian collaboration, it is very likely that results/data may get disseminated in the undesired fora which may be picked up by the neighbouring countries (read China ) creating undesirable situation."

"Hydrological data of Ganga basin are classified" and "it will be better if any work related to basin planning involving study/analysis of quantum of water is done bilaterally with the relevant countries rather than taking entire basin as single entity," the CWC chief added in his note.

The note by CWC chairman (on 31 October ) was sent to the union ministry of water resources but sources reveal that nothing much happened on it.

The CWC chairman, however, supported the idea of sharing methodology and technology for treatment of waste water and activities such as preparation of roadmap for sustainable water management for the Kanpur tanneries.

Meanwhile, explaining further, a top level water resources ministry official, told dna, "A consortium of IITs is already working on preparation of Ganga River Basin Plan. Discarding that Consortium and adding this aspect for cooperation with Australia is questionable and undermines our own reputed institutions."

"IITs have been working on this plan for years ... What is the point of wasting so many years on their work then? Is it only so that some officers can go on some foreign tours?" the officer alleged while adding that India should thus tread very carefully on that path.

"It would be better if government re-thinks on it rather than rushing on it during PM Narendra Modi's Australia visit," the senior water ministry official said.

India-Australia had signed an agreement on bilateral co-operation in water resources field in 2009 which was renewed in September 2014 during India visit of Australia PM. Thereafter, on 27 October 2014, a team of Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) of Australia met officials of the India's Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.

During the meeting, Australian side outlined areas of potential joint activities like supporting rejuvenation of Ganga, visit of NMCG (National Mission for Clean Ganga) officials to Australia, capacity building, engagement of Indian academic and technical facilities like IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur and NIH.