Key Facts

Ganga Water Sharing Treaty (Farakka Treaty)

  • Signed on: 12th December 1996 between India and Bangladesh
  • Duration: 30-year framework (1996–2026)
  • Coverage Period: Dry season from 1st January to 31st May
  • Preceded by: 1977 Ganga Water Agreement (short-term arrangement)

Water Sharing Mechanism

  • Formula-based mechanism for sharing Ganga waters during lean season
  • No guaranteed minimum flow clause (unlike the 1977 agreement)
  • Emergency consultation threshold: If available flow falls below 50,000 cusecs, both countries must enter into emergency consultations

Farakka Barrage

  • Location: Murshidabad district, West Bengal
  • Operational since: 1975
  • Purpose: Divert water from Ganga through a feeder canal into the Hooghly River
  • Primary objective: Reduce silt accumulation and maintain navigability of Kolkata Port

Bihar's Concerns

  • "Flood-and-parch" situation caused by the barrage
  • Increased silt deposition and rising riverbed levels
  • Reduced river carrying capacity
  • Frequent monsoon flooding in districts like Bhagalpur and Munger
  • Reduced dry-season water availability
  • Bihar has sought:
  • Consideration of projected water requirements up to 2050
  • Scientific silt management strategies
  • Greater representation of affected states in treaty revisions

Bangladesh's Concerns

  • Reduced downstream flow affects:
  • Water availability
  • Soil salinity
  • Agriculture
  • Ecosystems in southern Bangladesh

Joint Rivers Commission (JRC)

  • Established in 1972
  • Purpose: Promote cooperation over common water resources
  • Functions:
  • Exchange of hydrological data
  • Discussions on transboundary river issues
  • Cooperation in development and management of shared water resources

Ganga Basin Challenges

  • Sedimentation and changing river dynamics
  • Climate variability impacts
  • Groundwater alterations
  • Upstream water withdrawals
  • Need for integrated basin-level management

Constitutional and Legal Framework

  • Article 262: Deals with adjudication of water disputes
  • Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956: Framework for resolving water disputes between states
  • India-Bangladesh Treaty: Governed by international law and bilateral agreements

Significance for India

  • Bilateral relations with Bangladesh
  • Interstate water sharing (Bihar-West Bengal-Ganga flow)
  • Environmental and ecological considerations
  • Climate change adaptation in water management
  • Integration of regional concerns in international negotiations