Water Conflicts in Northeast India

Northeast India, apart from being the rainiest in India, is drained by two large river systems of the world – the Brahmaputra and the Barak (Meghna) – both transnational rivers cutting across bordering countries. The region, known for its rich water resources, has been witnessing an increasing number of conflicts related to water in recent years.

This volume documents the multifaceted conflicts and contestations around water in Northeast India, analyses their causes and consequences, and includes expert recommendations. It fills a major gap in the subject by examining wide-ranging issues such as cultural and anthropological dimensions of damming rivers in the Northeast and Eastern Himalayas; seismic surveys, oil extractions, and water conflicts; discontent over water quality and drinking water; floods, river bank erosion, embankments; water policy; transboundary water conflicts; and hydropower development. It also discusses the alleged Chinese efforts to divert the Brahmaputra River.

With its analytical and comprehensive coverage, 18 case studies, and suggested approaches for conflict resolution, this book will be indispensable for scholars and researchers of development studies, governance and public policy, politics and international relations, water resources, environment, geography, climate change, area studies, economics, and sociology. It will also be an important resource for policymakers, bureaucrats, development practitioners, civil society groups, the judiciary, and media.

K. J. Joy is Senior Fellow, Society for Promoting Participative Ecosystem Management, Pune, India.

Partha J. Das is Head of Water, Climate and Hazard Division of Aaranyak, Guwahati, India.

Gorky Chakraborty is Associate Professor, Institute of Development Studies Kolkata, India.

Chandan Mahanta is Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, India.

Suhas Paranjape was formerly Senior Fellow, Society for Promoting Participative Ecosystem Management, Pune, India.

Shruti Vispute is a doctoral student at the School of Geography, University of Leeds, UK.