The principles that govern water resources development and management of shared rivers are assuming more and more importance with the growing water stress in several basins around the globe. Not only between the countries that share a river, but also between the different states or provinces in any particular country, shared water has brought to the fore the need for an understanding of all related aspects-legal, social, environmental and many others. If not addressed with due sensitivity, conflicts emerge which may be vexing with political implications.
The ICID Central Office assembled some data during 2003 on inter-basin water transfer from world over and circulated it amongst its National Committees for verification, authentification and supplementation of data that was incorporated in the compilation. It has been envisaged that a Task Force under the Chairmanship of President Hon. Prof. Dr Bart Schultz would address the issue of inter-basin water transfer with particular reference to irrigation and drainage, besides its contribution to flood management. The ICID Central Office document will provide a base to commence this exercise.
In fact a Committee on Shared Rivers constituted by ICOLD had brought out a brief on the principles and practices, after working for a period of over 3 years. ICOLD has also constituted in 2003 a Committee on Water Transfer, which is to focus on dam-related aspects of inter-basin transfers and water sharing.
Recently, the second Asian Regional Conference of ICID held in Maoma, Australia in mid March 2004 had a specific theme on ''Irrigation in a total catchment context: sharing the river''. The ICID Conference came up with certain recommendations with regard to various aspects based on responses and proceedings.