GS Paper 3/2
Syllabus: Internal Security/ Effect of Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s Interests
Source: IE
Context: The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine is a fast-moving disaster, developing into a long-term environmental catastrophe (termed as ecocide) and worsening the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Kakhovka Dam:
- It was built in 1956 (under the Soviet Union) on the Dnipro River in Ukraine (Kherson region) as part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.
- The reservoir of the dam supplies water to the Crimean peninsula (annexed by Russia in 2014) and Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant (Europe’s largest and also under Russian control).
- There are different theories behind the collapse of the dam – Ukraine blames Russia/ Russia blames Ukraine/for collapse due to earlier damage.
Impact of the collapse:
- Floods and destruction: The left bank of the Dnipro River remains under Ukrainian control, while the right side is controlled by the Russians.
- Agriculture and global food security: Often called the “bread basket” of the world, 64% of Ukraine’s wheat is exported to developing countries. The flooding is likely to make arable lands unfit for agriculture for years to come due to increased salinity in the soil, as well as contamination of irrigation canals.
- Energy security: Ukraine relies on its four nuclear power plants, considered to be a clean energy source, for over half of its energy needs. The damage to the hydroelectric dam is also a hit to the renewable energy resources in Ukraine.
- Fresh water supplies: For example, water levels in the North Crimea Canal, which brings fresh water from the Dnipro River to the Crimea peninsula, may decrease.
Use of water as a weapon of war:
- The use of water as a weapon has a history stretching back to ancient times and it continues today.
- As climate change intensifies water scarcity, the value of water is likely to increase, thus incentivising its further use in conflict.
- Damage to water infrastructure can be an accidental consequence of war or an intentional
- Sometimes, weaponising water serves both military and political goals. For example,
- Israel has restricted water resources to Palestinians to displace local populations and undermine Palestinian economic development.
- The Syrian regime repeatedly used water shortages against civilians and combatants during the Syrian civil war.
- Upstream states can use water as leverage when negotiating (by threatening to cut or reduce the flow of water) with downstream states about a wide range of issues. For example,
- Pakistan (downstream) accused India (upstream) of waging ‘fifth-generation warfare‘ by restricting western rivers (Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum) flow to Pakistan.
- India accuses China of controlling the flow of water in the Brahmaputra River by building ‘super’ dams close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Ethical concerns related to the use of water as a weapon of war include:
- Violation of human rights and denial of access to clean water.
- Environmental damage and ecological consequences.
- Disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations.
- Breach of international humanitarian law.
- Long-term consequences and hindrance to post-conflict recovery.
- Escalation of conflict and perpetuation of violence.
Way ahead:
- The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols regulate the conduct of armed conflict and seek to limit its effects.
- Under the additional protocols, attacks on water infrastructure such as dams can constitute a war crime, particularly if they cause significant harm to civilians.
- The international community needs to place greater emphasis on addressing the role of water in conflict.
- However, much depends on how the international community responds and enforces consequences for such violations.
Conclusion: The tragic results of the Nova Kakhovka dam collapse should bring greater attention to the role that weaponising water is likely to play in the future.
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