Source: TBSNEWS
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Union Government despite concerns from Bangladesh is set to commission Farakka Barrage, project which took nearly 12 years & Rs. 130 crores & has been a point of contention between two nations over Ganga water sharing.
Farakka Barrage is a large dam like structure built across Ganga River in West Bengal, India.
It was built to regulate flow of water & divert more water towards Hooghly River which flows through Kolkata.
The barrage is located in Murshidabad district, West Bengal very close to border of Bangladesh.
It was built near town of Farakka & is about 16.5 km from Bangladesh.
The main purpose of Farakka Barrage was to increase flow of water in Hooghly River so that silt (mud & sand) does not block river near Kolkata. This helps to:
Keep Kolkata Port working properly.
Improve navigation (boat & ship movement) in Hooghly River.
Control flooding in some areas.
Construction of Farakka Barrage started in 1961 & was completed in 1975. It took 12 years to finish & it cost around ₹130 crores at that time.
The barrage is 2,240 meters (2.24 km) long.
It has 109 gates which can be opened or closed to control water flow.
A canal (artificial water channel) called Farakka Feeder Canal carries water from Ganga River into Hooghly River.
Since Ganga River also flows into Bangladesh Farakka Barrage affects water availability there.
Bangladesh fears that:
The barrage reduces water flow into its rivers causing water shortages.
It affects agriculture & fishing in Bangladesh.
To solve this India & Bangladesh have signed water sharing agreements such as Ganga Water Treaty (1996) which ensures Bangladesh gets a fair share of river water.
Helps in maintaining Kolkata Port.
Reduces silt deposits in Hooghly River.
Improves irrigation & flood control in some areas.
Disputes with Bangladesh over water sharing.
Causes flooding in some regions of Bihar & West Bengal.
Leads to erosion (wearing away of land) near barrage.
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Topicmc |
3Details |
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Geography |
India & Bangladesh share a 4,096 km-long border, 5th longest in world. States like West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Mizoram & Meghalaya share a border with Bangladesh. |
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History |
Bangladesh was part of India before 1947 & later part of Pakistan (East Pakistan) until 1971. With India's help, Bangladesh got its independence in December 1971. |
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Languages Spoken |
People in both countries speak Bengali (main language of Bangladesh) & Hindi, English & other regional languages in India. |
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Trade Relations |
India sells agriculture products, machinery & medicines to Bangladesh, while Bangladesh sells garments, fish & jute products to India. Trade between two countries is over $10 billion every year. |
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Rivers & Water Sharing |
Over 54 rivers flow between India & Bangladesh. The Farakka Barrage dispute is about sharing Ganga River's water fairly. The Teesta River water-sharing issue is still being discussed. |
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Transport & Connectivity |
India & Bangladesh have roadways, railways & water routes connecting them. Special train services like Maitree Express & Bandhan Express help people travel easily. |
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Defense & Security |
India & Bangladesh help each other control terrorism, illegal border activities & human trafficking. Both countries hold joint military exercises to improve security. |
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Border Issues |
India & Bangladesh had a land boundary agreement in 2015, solving disputes over 162 small border villages (enclaves). |
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Energy Cooperation |
India supplies electricity to Bangladesh & they work together on renewable energy projects. Bangladesh also imports fuel from India. |
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Cultural & People-to-People Ties |
People from Bangladesh often visit India for education, medical treatment & tourism. Bollywood movies & Bengali culture are popular in both countries. |
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Major Challenges |
Some issues still need solutions, like illegal immigration, water-sharing disputes & border security problems. |
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Future Cooperation |
Both countries plan to increase trade, improve transport & work together on climate change & regional security. |
India & Bangladesh share 54 rivers including major ones like Ganga, Teesta & Brahmaputra.
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Agreement Name |
Year |
Rivers Covered |
Key Points |
Current Status |
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Farakka Agreement |
1977 |
Ganga River |
India agreed to release a certain amount of water to Bangladesh during dry season. |
This agreement was temporary & replaced in 1996. |
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Ganga Water Treaty |
1996 |
Ganga River |
India & Bangladesh agreed to share Ganga’s water for 30 years, with specific water distribution rules. |
Still in effect, but Bangladesh sometimes complains of getting less water. |
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Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) |
1972 |
All 54 shared rivers |
A group was formed to discuss & resolve river-related issues. |
Meetings happen, but many issues remain unsolved. |
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Teesta River Agreement |
Not Signed Yet |
Teesta River |
The agreement proposes that India gets 42.5% of Teesta’s water, while Bangladesh gets 37.5%. |
Pending, as India’s state of West Bengal has objections. |
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Tipaimukh Dam Issue |
Ongoing Discussions |
Barak River |
India wants to build a dam to control floods & generate electricity. Bangladesh fears it will reduce water flow. |
Still under discussion; Bangladesh is worried about its impact. |
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Feni River Agreement |
2019 |
Feni River |
India was allowed to use 1.82 cusecs (a small amount) of water for drinking purposes in Tripura. |
Signed & implemented. |
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Bilateral Cooperation on Water Management |
Ongoing |
All shared rivers |
Both countries discuss water-sharing, river conservation & flood control. |
Regular talks happen, but no new major agreements signed recently. |
For more information, please visit IAS GYAN
Sources:
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Consider following statements regarding India-Bangladesh water-sharing agreements: Ganga Water Treaty (1996) is valid for 50 years.Teesta Water Sharing Agreement has been fully implemented.Feni River Agreement (2019) allows India to withdraw a small quantity of water for drinking purposes.Which of statements given above is/are correct? (A) 1 & 2 only Correct Answer: (C)Explanation:Statement 1 is Incorrect: Ganga Water Treaty (1996) is valid for 30 years (not 50 years). It was signed between India & Bangladesh to share Ganga waters. Statement 2 is Incorrect: Teesta Water Sharing Agreement has not been implemented yet due to objections from West Bengal. Statement 3 is Correct: Feni River Agreement (2019) allows India to withdraw 1.82 cusecs of water for drinking purposes in Tripura. |
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