Rivers Beyond Borders

Mehebub Sahana is a Leverhulme Fellow and Lecturer in GIS in the Department of Geography at The University of Manchester, UK. He is an environmental geographer with an interest in analysing land-use changes, and his work focuses on landscape alterations in the post-colonial era and their consequences for sustainability in developing countries. His current research interests include the transboundary river basin management, landscape ecology, socio-ecological resilience, hydro-climatic extremes, and the socio-political implications of land-use dynamics in the Global South. Previously, he was a Lecturer at the Indira Gandhi Conservation Monitoring Centre (IGCMC), WWF-India, New Delhi. He is a highly cited, globally recognised researcher, and his work has been supported by projects funded by the Leverhulme Trust (UK, 2022–25), the International Science Partnership Fund (2024–25), the British Council (2025–26), and ICSSR, India. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) and a member of the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network. He actively engages with public and policy audiences through opinion pieces, editorials, and commentary in various media outlets.

"...River ecosystems and their diverse cultural values are under assault by large infrastructure and indiscriminate pollution. Yet, a group of insightful and committed researchers, professionals, and activists led by Dr. Mehebub Sahana have systematically traced out innovative responses to these and future challenges for the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Indus, and other rivers rising from the Himalayas and watering South Asia. This volume represents a major step forward and is a must read."- Prof. Christopher Scott, Pennsylvania State University, USA"Disaster-centric discourse on climate change prevails despite [the book's] interdisciplinary and intersectoral character. Locals are the first victims and first responders to such disasters. They absorb shocks yet their capacity to manage is constrained by visible laggardness in terms of knowledge, technology, forewarning systems and institutional distances. National policymaking must start with local communities and geographies."- Prof. Mahendra P Lama, JNU and former member, National Security Advisory Board, Government of India"...In this volatile period, the book offers a valuable contribution by promoting scientific knowledge, countering mis- and disinformation, and encouraging peaceful coexistence among countries that share millennia of cultural ties. It reinforces the idea that water is fundamentally a cultural rather than a technical element, and that hydro-diplomacy should serve as a tool for peace, dignity, and shared prosperity." - Prof. Bayes Ahmed, University College London (UCL), UK"This piece of work beautifully weaves together scientific arena that supports political diplomacy focusing on riverine communities. It also reminds that in addition to physical landscapes rivers are shared lifelines that support livelihood, shape cultures, sustain ecosystems, and connect nations.... The methodological clarity and depth of research, and the empathy with which it approaches complex environmental governance challenges make it an inspiring and essential to read."- Janak Raj Joshi, Executive Director, Land Management Training Centre, Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Government of Nepal"Transboundary river basin management is a critical and urgent area of research, vital for environmental sustainability, sovereignty, diplomacy, and peace in South Asia. Dr. Mehebub Sahana’s book addresses this urgency comprehensively, offering a forward-looking perspective that integrates multi-sectoral, multidisciplinary, and collaborative approaches. By combining technological innovations and data-driven insights with sustainable development agendas, the book provides practical and visionary solutions for transboundary water challenges..."- Dr. Md. Nazmul Islam, High Commissioner (Ambassador), Designate of Bangladesh to the Maldives, Government of Bangladesh

• 1. Transboundary River Conflicts, Cooperation, and Environmental Sustainability in South Asia. 2. Transboundary Water Dispute between Bangladesh and India and the Role of Bangladesh National River Conservation Commission (NRCC): Prospects and Challenges. 3. Riparian Neighbours: Exploring India-China Water Disputes and Pathways to Resolution. 4. From Colonial Land Regimes to Contemporary Water Politics: Tracing Hydro-Social Transformations in the Bengal Delta. 5. Challenges of Integrated River Basin Management and Stakeholder Engagement in the Transboundary Tista River Basin between India and Bangladesh. 6. Hydro-Diplomacy: A Critical Analysis of the Regional Cooperation in South Asia. 7. Transboundary Rivers of South Asia: Interplay between Dispute and Diplomatic Deadlock under Climate Change Conditions. 8. How India Manages its Transboundary Waters: Analyzing Ethical Considerations. 9. Examining Legal Frameworks for Sustainable Transboundary Water Governance amidst Climate Change between India-Bangladesh. 10. Water, Climate, and Sustainability: The Case of Bhutan. 11. The Cryosphere and Delta: Navigating Transboundary Dynamics of Ganga River Basin. 12. Contested Waters and Clumsy Solutions: Plural Rationalities in Transboundary Water Governance in Nepal-India Borderlands. 13. Sustainable Water Resources Management in Brahmaputra River Basin: Key Challenges and Way Forward. 14. Conflict, Cooperation and Climate Resilience in the Governance of South Asia’s Transboundary Rivers.