Emergence of Water-Energy-Food Nexus Resulting from Interbasin Water Transfer: Economic Analysis for a Transboundary River Basin in South Asia
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 147, Issue 10
Abstract
The risk of water shortages in many regions of the world is growing with the increase of demand for water by various sectors of the economy. Interbasin water transfer (IBWT) is a technological solution that has been used for centuries to provide such regions with water from regions where water is abundant. To date, however, there is a lack of explicit ex ante assessment of the economic impact of IBWT on the water supply, energy, and food production and their interconnection (WEF nexus) in water receiving and providing regions in transboundary basins in South Asia. This study addresses this issue by investigating a planned IBWT scheme from Sun Koshi River to Kamala River in Nepal. The plan has been discussed in Nepal and India since the 1980s, but no actual measures were undertaken. Results of the analysis show that an IBWT scheme, if implemented, could result in a significant surplus of energy and agricultural production for both nations sharing the basin. However, if flows are changed due to climate change impacts, the future IBWT becomes uncertain. Thus, both countries need cooperative agreement on investment and working mechanisms of the planned IBWT before engaging in the project.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request (economic and agronomic data, model, code).
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by CSIRO Land and Water Strategic Project Initiative, entitled “Integrated Policy Framework to Address Water-Energy-Food Interdependencies.” The author is grateful to Drs. Dave Penton, Tira Foran, Mobin-ud-Din Ahmad, and Neil Lazarow for their valuable insights and comments. The author acknowledges the Government of Nepal, Water and Energy Commission Secretariat for their support of the project by facilitating the field trip and providing some datasets. Special thanks to Yingying Yu for the map of the Kamala Basin.
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Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 147 • Issue 10 • October 2021
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 5, 2019
Accepted: Apr 23, 2021
Published online: Jul 24, 2021
Published in print: Oct 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Dec 24, 2021
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