Predictions by the United Nations and the World Bank state that water scarcity impacts approximately 40 percent of the world’s population, with up to 700 million people at risk of displacement due to drought by 2030. A World Bank report has stated that water scarcity, aggravated by climate change, could hamper economic growth, lead to migration, and trigger conflicts.

World Economic Forum has water challenges under its focus. A paper presented at this forum, way back in October 2018, by Paul Ratner — titled: “Where will the ‘water wars’ of the future be fought?” highlighted the five most vulnerable hotspots as the Nile, Ganges-Brahmaputra, Indus, Tigris-Euphrates, and Colorado rivers. The paper paints a disturbing picture of a nearby future where people are fighting over access to water.

Now South Asia is witnessing a ‘water war’ era where hydro-political issues have flared up between China, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh with China, India, and Pakistan begin constructing dams at unprecedented pace as water sources becoming scarce.

Water scarcity with growing population, climate change,........

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