Table of Contents
India’s relation with its neighbours
- Nepal and Bangladesh have been under stress in recent months. India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla paid a two-day visit to the Bangladesh capital Dhaka on August 18-19.
- This visit came at a time when the Sheikh Hasina government is in talks with Beijing for a $1bn loan for a project on the river Teesta.
India’s relation with its neighbours
- The Teesta River originates at TsoLamo,
- India, River flows through the states of Sikkim and West Bengal in India.
- In Bangladesh, Teesta flows through Rangpur division before meeting Brahmaputra River at Chilmari.
River Teesta
- Teesta is a perennial, rain-and-snow-fed river characterized by extreme variability in her flows throughout the year.
- Over 90% of her flow occurs in rainy season from June to September while the rest 10% occurs in the remaining eight months.
- As a lower riparian, Bangladesh is completely dependent on India, the upper riparian, for keeping minimum flows in the Teesta River.
Rangpur Division
- The river causes difficulties for the Rangpur region in north Bangladesh throughout the year.
- During the lean months (December to May), the Teesta goes dry, affecting agriculture.
- In rainy season, river swells up and causes enormous flooding and erosion of embankments.
Rangpur Division
- As a result, Rangpur division, in Teesta River basin, is among the most underdeveloped areas of South Asia.
- Bangladesh claims that Teesta dries during summer months because India holds most of the winter supplies of the river’s water.
- During the monsoon months, India releases excess water which causes devastation in the plains of Rangpur.
Teesta Negotiation
- Negotiations on the Teesta River have been going on for decades. In 2011, a draft agreement for sharing of Teesta water between India and Bangladesh was prepared by two countries. Teesta deal between New Delhi and Dhaka fell through in 2011 due to opposition of West Bengal Chief Minister, and no concrete progress has been made since.
MoU between B’desh and China
- In September 2016, the Bangladesh Water Development Board entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Power Construction Corporation of China. MoU was aimed to carry out a technical study to better manage the Teesta for the benefit of northern Bangladesh’s greater Rangpur region.
- Bangladesh requires around $987.27 million for the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project.
- The project will not get Bangladesh the additional water from the Teesta that India alone can provide during the lean season. .
- However, it will reduce the annual devastation that the river causes during the monsoon months.
- This will allow Bangladesh to use the water of the Teesta optimally as a dredged river can be “managed” better during the lean months.
India’s Image in Neighbourhood
- It is unlikely that it will affect India but it will definitely reduce the significance of India- Bangladesh Teesta Water Agreement.
- Major display of Chinese engineering in Bangladesh is likely to intensify criticism of India’s inability to deal with inter country water disputes.
- Loss of significance of the Teesta water-sharing negotiations will highlight the fact that India failed to deliver what it promised to its neighbour.
India -Nepal -China
- In May, India’s Defence Minister inaugurated a new road in the Himalayas, connecting to the border with China, at the Lipulekh pass.
- The Nepali government protested immediately, contending that the road crosses territory that it claims.
- Nepal accused India of changing the status quo without diplomatic consultations.
Disputed Regions
- Disputed region includes Limpiyadhura, Lipu Lekh, and the Kalapani areas. New Delhi’s position on the dispute is based on its decades-long possession of the territory.
- Nepal’s claim is centered on the Treaty of Sugauli (1815), according to which these areas traditionally belonged to it.
Involvement of China
- Defending its rights over the disputed region Nepal said. “if control of a disputed region were to confirm ownership, then what of China’s continuous hold over Aksai Chin since Independence?”
- Above statement created a suspicion in Indian minds that Nepal is acting on the behest of China.
Huge Investment in Nepal
- In the current fiscal year, over 90% of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Nepal is from China. Beijing pledged nearly $500 million in financial aid to Nepal in October last year when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the country. China has already pumped millions of yuan into infrastructure and hydropower projects in Nepal.
Nepal and BRI
- Both countries share ever closer trading relations and Nepal has signed up for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
- Nepal and BRI Rising Influence of China
- China is a rising power and it is looking to project its power primarily through investments.
- With big investments comes big influence.
- Nepal and Bangladesh whose economy relies significantly on trade, have a growing trade deficit with China. .This gives Beijing leverage over Nepal and Bangladesh.
India’s Neighbourhood
- China is trying to take the advantage of stressed relations between India and its neighbours.
- China is investing heavily in the neighborhood of India.
- India should repair its ties with neighbours so that it can balance the rising influence of China in its neighbourhood.
India needs to shed the big brotherly attitude
- Repairing these ties requires the recognition that each nation is equal, irrespective of size. India must show a large-heartedness and generosity that has been missing for too long. The engagement has to be constant and continuous.
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