4.

6 Conflict of Resources
4.6.1 Introduction
Resource conflict is a term that can refer to
different types of disputes over scarce or valuable
resources. Following the rise of industrialization,
the amount of raw materials an industrialized
nation uses to sustain its activities is heightened.
These resources can be a wide range of tangible
and intangible assets such as land, water, energy,
financial capital, or even political influence.
Conflicts may arise when there is an imbalance
between the demand for these resources and their
availability, leading to disputes, tension, or even Source: https://countercurrents.org
violent confrontations.
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• Oil and Natural Gas : Most valuable
traded resource

Eg. Territorial disputes in the South

China Sea. This region is rich in oil and
natural gas reserves, and several
countries, including China, Vietnam, the
Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei, have Source: https://cepr.org

competing territorial claims over various

parts of the sea.

• Mining and Trade of diamonds : Africa

plagued by diamond related conflicts

Eg. Illicit Trade and Smuggling, Control

Over Mines, Funding Armed Conflicts
Source: https://gemrockauctions.com
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• Water : Basic need for any society to sustain
life.

o Countries in South Asia, Dams and

infrastructure projects in the upstream regions
can impact downstream water flow, leading to
concerns and disputes.
o Conflict seen between India and Pakistan in
Indus Water Treaty (IWT, signed on
September 19, 1960, between India and
Pakistan and brokered by the World Bank)
after India began construction of various water
infrastructures in upstream of Indus River.

• Minerals : Eg_ Cobalt, Copper, Uranium, Gold

https://currentaffairs.adda247.com
• Timber, Land
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Source: https://ga.water.usgs.gov
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4.6.2 Conflict of Resources in Nepal

Resource conflicts are a common occurrence in Nepal, and they can arise due to
various reason such as patron-client social relations, conflicts of interests, perception
and belief, competition over scarce resources. Conflicts over forests, land, and water
are the most dominant conflicts of resources in Nepal.
1. Forest Resources

Nepal’s forests resources have always been important livelihood resources—providing

food, medicine, building materials, and animal feed for rural families.
• Forest encroachment by non-users, unauthorized collection of firewood, use of trees
to build bridges and cremate the dead, and competition for leadership of forest user
groups (FUGs). Local politicians use FUGs(Forest User Group)as a platform for
political gain.
• Conflicts related to Access to forest products, illegal collection of non-timber forest
products by outsiders.
• Eg. Proposed site of Nijgadh Airport, Delay in Fast Track Construction
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2. Land Resources

• Conflict among family members for the

distribution of land among them,
encroachment of border by neighboring
Country
• Ownership rights. Many ownership rights
disputes originate from the failure to register
land and failure to demonstrate land
transactions. “Up to half of Nepal’s
landholders have no legal entitlements to their
land” (Wily, 2008, 72) https://www.123rf.com

• ‘Lalita niwas prakaran’ , ‘Champion footwear jagga parakaran’

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3. Water Resources
Water resource conflicts is also one of the most contentious concerns in Nepal. Although
it is among richest country of the world in water resources. Many of the rivers that flow
through Nepalese cities are not clean, wells are drying up, the groundwater table is
dropping and the water distribution system is poor, and inefficient.

• A study conducted by Water Aid Nepal and Federation of Water and Sanitation Users
in Nepal (FEDWASUN) in 12 districts found that water scarcity was the major cause of
conflict although disputes were also perceived in areas where there was an abundance
of water. Dispute in sharing source of water for drinking, irrigation. Non-compliance
with maintenance of irrigation and drinking water systems.

• Bheri-Babai diversion project

• Locals had vandalized and set fire to Champawati hydropower project claiming it had
damaged Rainastar Irrigation Project.

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Managing conflicts over resources involves a combination of diplomatic, legal, and
institutional approaches, as well as addressing the underlying social, economic, and
environmental issues.

1. Dialogue and Negotiation:

• Encourage open and constructive dialogue among stakeholders
• Establish and enforce clear legal frameworks and regulations governing resource
use
• Involve local communities in decision-making processes related to resource
management.
• Conflict Prevention: Address underlying issues such as inequality, poverty, and lack
of access to resources

2.Transparency and Accountability:

• Promote transparency in resource management to build trust among stakeholders.
• Hold all parties accountable for their actions and adherence to regulations.
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3.Capacity Building:
• Build the capacity of local communities, government agencies, and other stakeholders to
manage resources effectively. (Documentation of cause ofconflicts to prevent them from
happening and also mentioning on how to solve such issues if encountered)
• Provide training on sustainable practices, conflict resolution, and governance.

4.Technology and Innovation:

• Use technology, such as satellite monitoring and data analysis, to track resource use and
identify potential conflicts.
• Promote innovative solutions for resource management, such as precision agriculture and
sustainable technologies. (Precision agriculture refers to the use of advanced
technology and data analysis tools to optimize various aspects of farming. The goal
is to increase efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in agriculture by analyzing
data on factors such as soil conditions, weather patterns, and crop health)

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 Refrences (4.6):

• Water conflict and cooperation between India and Pakistan | Climate-Diplomacy

• Resource Conflicts and Conflict Management: Practices and Challenges in Nepal
(researchgate.net)

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