Bihar Seeks Greater Water Rights as India-Bangladesh Ganga Treaty Nears Expiry

As the Ganga water-sharing treaty between India and Bangladesh approaches its expiry this year, the state of Bihar is pushing to address its long-term water demands before any renewal takes place. Signed in December 1996, the treaty governs how water is shared during the lean season from January to June, dividing flows between upstream India and downstream Bangladesh based on water levels at the Farakka barrage.

Bihar's Demands

During the lean period, if water at the barrage drops below 70,000 cubic feet per second, both nations split it equally, while higher flows guarantee specific allocations for Bangladesh with the rest going to India. Leaders from Bihar argue this arrangement ignores the state's needs for agriculture, drinking water, and industry. Janata Dal United parliamentarian Sanjay Jha stated in the Rajya Sabha that renewing the treaty without factoring in Bihar's water security would harm the state.

Differing Views

State reports and officials note that while Bihar contributes heavily to meeting the barrage's water requirements through its tributaries, river flows at entry points like Buxar drop sharply during dry months. However, experts remain divided on the issue. Himanshu Thakkar of SANDRP argues there is no evidence of pressure on Bihar since the state lacks major storage dams. IIT Kanpur professor Rajiv Sinha attributes the state's water challenges to sediment accumulation rather than the treaty itself, noting that the Farakka Barrage was originally built for navigation.

Context

The Farakka Barrage, located in West Bengal, was completed in 1975 to maintain the navigability of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly waterway and the Kolkata Port. Water-sharing agreements regarding the Ganga involve balancing the needs of densely populated downstream regions with upstream basin requirements.