Amid tensions, a sign of mutual trust and confidence emerges. Bangladesh has acknowledged that water is not being forcibly withheld at the Farakka Barrage.
A Bangladeshi delegation is currently in India for a review of the Ganges Water Treaty, a 30-year agreement between the two countries. However, almost every summer, Bangladesh alleges that India is not releasing water as per the treaty, according to Uttarbanga Sambad.
Public dissatisfaction over the issue occasionally surfaces in Bangladesh and even becomes a topic in election campaigns. However, for the first time, Bangladesh has accepted that reduced water flow in the Padma River is due to natural causes.
On Tuesday, Mohammad Abul Hossain, head of the Bangladeshi delegation from the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission, admitted that the decline in water levels is due to natural factors.
The Bangladeshi representatives visited the Farakka Barrage on Tuesday to assess the water flow from the Ganges to the Padma. They reviewed the process of water distribution and later, Abul Hossain stated, "The available water in the Ganges is being directed toward Bangladesh. The feeder canal supplies water to Kolkata. Water sharing at Farakka is based on the available flow, and we observed that the treaty is being properly implemented."
He also mentioned that water flow was good in January but declined in February, attributing this to natural factors.
Explaining further, he said, "Due to lower rainfall last year, the overall water flow was reduced, making lower water availability inevitable." Supporting this claim, R.D. Deshpande, General Manager of the Farakka Barrage Project, noted, "Currently, the Ganges has around 68,000 cusecs of water, similar to last year’s levels."
Given the ongoing political tensions between India and Bangladesh, this understanding between the two nations is a welcome development.
The 86th meeting of the Joint Rivers Commission will continue until March 8. After starting in Farakka, the discussions will move to Kolkata, with the next meeting scheduled in Dhaka.
The current India-Bangladesh water treaty expires next year. As per the agreement, water is shared every 15 days between January and May, based on the river’s flow. Although disputes have existed since the beginning of the treaty, Abul Hossain’s statement suggests a more cooperative approach moving forward.
The Indian delegation, led by Commissioner (Flood Management) Sharad Chandra, includes seven members, mirroring the seven-member Bangladeshi team.
They arrived in Farakka on Monday evening. The General Manager of the Farakka Barrage Project mentioned that Bangladesh has a team stationed at the site year-round, with a high-level meeting taking place once annually.
This current visit is part of a routine inspection to ensure the treaty’s implementation.
