Bangladesh satisfied with Ganges water sharing

Expressing satisfaction over Ganges water sharing, Bangladesh has agreed that Ganges water is not being forcibly held back at Farakka.

An eleven-member Bangladeshi delegation visited the Farakka Barrage and assessed the flow of Ganges and its downstream condition on Tuesday. After the visit, the Bangladeshi delegation expressed its satisfaction.


They said that the water is decreasing in the Padma due to natural reasons. The flow was good in January, but the flow decreased slightly in February. They also informed that currently the two countries are sharing water based on the 1996 agreement.

Reviewing the process of water flows from Ganges to Padma, the head of the Bangladeshi delegation, Abul Hossain, said: "All the water in the Ganges goes towards Bangladesh. The water in the feeder canal goes to Kolkata. Water is shared based on the amount of water in Farakka. We saw that the agreement is being implemented properly."

He said: "The flow was good in January. It decreased in February." He, however, commented that it is completely natural.

Explaining this, Abul said: "Last year, the flow was low due to less rain. It is natural that there is less water."

Meanwhile, Farakka Barrage Project General Manager RD Deshpande said: "As of Tuesday, there is about 68,000 cusecs of water in the Ganges, which was almost the same as last year."

He said: "In this way, the Bangladesh team is here all year round. A high-level meeting is held once a year. It is a routine visit to review the work as per the agreement."

Experts say that the atmosphere of complaints and counter-complaints between the two countries regarding the distribution of Ganges water will be resolved through this statement by Bangladesh. They find such a position of the two countries to be comforting undoubtedly.

The 86th meeting of the Joint River Commission of the two countries continued till March 8. Although it began in Farakka on Tuesday, the meeting was held in Kolkata later. The next meeting of the commission is scheduled to be held in Dhaka. The India-Bangladesh water agreement will expire next year. According to the agreement, the two countries will receive water in half every 15 days based on the flow rate during the dry season from January to May.

Seven Indian representatives were present in the commission along with seven Bangladeshis in Farakka. Commissioner (Flood Management) Sharad Chandra was leading the Indian side.

During meeting, the Bangladeshi delegation tried to portray how Bangladesh is facing severe floods and river erosion during the rainy season and how the northern districts including Rangpur are facing severe water shortage during the dry season if the Teesta agreement is not signed.