Review of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty

After suspending the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, India is exploring options to review and amend the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty with Bangladesh. This treaty, which expires in 2026, was originally signed in 1996 during Sheikh Hasina's first term as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Background and Purpose

• The treaty was designed to allocate the flow of the Ganges River at the Farakka Barrage in West Bengal during the dry season from January 1 to May 31 each year.
• The agreement aimed to resolve disputes over water entitlements between India and Bangladesh following the construction of the Farakka Barrage in 1975.
• The Barrage was intended to divert water from the Ganges to the Hooghly River to maintain the navigability of the Calcutta port.

Current Treaty Arrangements

• India and Bangladesh agreed to share the Ganges water at Farakka, with the barrage being located approximately 10 km from the Bangladesh border.
• The arrangement currently provides 35,000 cusecs of water alternately for 10 days each to both countries during the lean season, from March 11 to May 11.

India's Considerations for Treaty Revision

• India wants to amend the treaty to better align with its current development needs, including irrigation, port maintenance, and power generation.
• India desires an additional 30,000 to 35,000 cusecs of water during the same period to meet these emerging requirements.
• The West Bengal government supports the central government's position, believing the current treaty provisions inadequately address its needs.