India and the Ganga Waters Treaty: Analysis of the Water Sharing Mechanism

Abstract

India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers between them. Notwithstanding, the Ganga Waters Treaty (GWT) 1996 remains the sole water-sharing mechanism that specially focuses on the sharing of Ganga water during lean season. According to the GWT 1996, Farakka would be the water distribution point between the two countries. The present study is based on 10 years of flow data (2012–2021) of river Ganga at the point of Farakka. The flow data analysis reveals that the sharing of water between India and Bangladesh is in accordance with the formula laid down in the GWT 1996. The analysis further shows that India has received less quantum of water as compared to the historical average (1949–1988) given in the GWT 1996 for almost one-third of the 10-day intervals. The trends in water availability significantly confirm that India, an upper riparian, has mostly managed to ensure the required flow level at Farakka. According to the results of the study, four-fifths of the treaty period witnessed a higher quantum of water at Hardinge Bridge in Bangladesh as compared to the flow released at Farakka. This indicates that despite fluctuations in flow availability, India has largely managed to uphold the treaty mechanism.

Keywords

The Ganga Waters Treaty water sharing Joint River Commission climate change Farakka

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Baten

M. A.

, & Titumir

R. A. M.

(2016). Environmental challenges of trans-boundary water resources management: The case of Bangladesh. Sustainable Water Resources Management , 2(1), 13–27.

Bhattacharjee

(2022). Why is the Kushiyara river treaty between India and Bangladesh important? The Hindu . https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/explained-why-is-the-kushiyara-river-treaty-between-india-and-bangladesh-important/article65874597.ece

Hanasz

(2014). Sharing waters vs. sharing rivers: The 1996 Ganges Treaty. In Global Water Forum (Vol. 28).

Hill

(2008). The regional politics of water sharing: Contemporary issues in South Asia. In Lahiri-Dutt

K. R. J.

(Eds.), Water first: Issues and challenges for nations and communities in South Asia (pp. 59–80). Sage Publications.

Islam

, Khalequzzaman

, & Alam

(2013). Interim assessment of the Ganges water-sharing treaty. In Ahmed

M. F.

, Khalequzzaman

, & Ahmed

(Eds.), Water resources in South Asia: Conflict to cooperation (pp. 156–166), Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon and Bangladesh Environment Network.

Iyer

(2003). Conflict resolution: Three river water treaties. In Water perspectives, issues, concerns (pp. 236–238). Sage Publications.

Joint River Commission, Bangladesh. (n.d.). http://www.jrcb.gov.bd/site/files/de7084e9-7e52-432a-b066-d6ed8523b0f6/Sharing-of-the-Ganges-Water

Lovelle

(2016). India, Bangladesh and the Farakka Barrage . Future Directions International, 10.

Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. (2022). India-Bangladesh cooperation . https://jalshakti-dowr.gov.in/indo-bangladesh-cooperation/

10.

Pandey

(2016). India Bangladesh domestic politics: The river Ganges water issues . Springer.

11.

Rahman

(2022, March 22). Interview: What now for the Ganges Treaty? The Third Pole. https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/regional-cooperation/interview-what-now-for-ganges-treaty/

12.

Rahman

K. S.

, Islam

, Navera

U. K.

, & Ludwig

(2019). A critical review of the Ganges water sharing arrangement. Water Policy , 21(2), 259–276.

13.

Salman

S. M.

, & Uprety

(1999). Hydro-politics in South Asia: A comparative analysis of the Mahakali and the Ganges Treaties. Natural Resources Journal , 39, 295–343.

14.

Thakur

(2020). India-Bangladesh trans-boundary river management: Understanding the Tipaimukh dam controversy . Observer Research Foundation. https://www.orfonline.org/research/india-bangladesh-trans-boundary-river-management-understanding-the-tipaimukh-dam-controversy-60419/

15.

Thomas

K. A.

(2017). The Ganges water treaty: 20 years of cooperation, on India’s terms. Water Policy , 19(4), 724–740.