Identification of Opportunities for International Cooperation over Proposed Series of Large Freshwater Reservoirs to Capture the Melting Glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) maountains

Abstract:

The Kabul River Basin (KRB) is providing livelihood to more than 25 million people in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where both countries are experiencing rapid population growth. However, over 40 years of conflicts and political unrest in the region has created multiple arrays of problems and challenges, one of which is the lack of cooperation on sustainable water resources management to increase water supply and to meet the demands. A series of large reservoirs in the headwaters of the KRB will help to capture the freshwater from the melting glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) Mountains, provide the necessary drinking water, irrigation water for food production as well as helping in hydroelectric power generation for both countries and reduce the risk of seasonal flooding downstream . This study investigates the potential hydrologic effects of the proposed 14 new large reservoirs in the headwaters of the KRB on both sides. The stream-flow in the KRB is simulated using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) watershed modelling system, both with, and without, the proposed 14 new large reservoirs. Beneficial results show a significant reduction in the flood risk with proper reservoir operations, particularly crucial for the Charsaddah and Nowshera regions in Pakistan. The low flow analysis for the post-development scenario shows approximately a 70% increase in the KRB discharge due to reservoir operation in the low-flow season. The study results highlight an opportunity for both nations to decide on the water conservation jointly and to manage the reservoir planning, construction and management in a cooperative manner. This cooperation may lead to a more open and constructive dialogue on other bilateral issues. As the region is experiencing multidimensional ranges of challenges, potential and perceived risks should be studied, and all interested parties to have the opportunity to take full advantage of the billions of cubic meters of freshwater from the melting glaciers in Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) Mountains that are currently running off to the sea.