India diverts huge water from Farakka
Upper riparian India has further diverted huge volume of water during the third spell of the New Year leaving only 35,048 cusec for Bangladesh against the latter's share of 50,154 cusec, according to statistics of the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC), Bangladesh.
During the past two spells of 10 days each, India deprived Bangladesh 41,264 cusec of water through Farakka against its fair share mentioned in the indicative schedule-2 of the Ganges water sharing treaty signed in 1996.
Bangladesh and India share Ganges water each year from January 1 to May 31 as was designed in the Ganges water sharing treaty.
According to the treaty, Bangladesh and India is to equally share water if water flow is up to 70,000 cusec or less in the Farakka barrage point. Bangladesh is to get 35,000 cusec of water and India to get the rest if water at Farakka point is between 70,000 and 75,000 cusec. When water at Farakka point reaches more than 75,000 cusec, India is to get 40,000 cusec and Bangladesh to get the rest.
But statistics show that India never followed these terms and conditions of the accord and released less quantity of water for Bangladesh. It did not respon to protests lodged by the JRC, Bangladesh in the past.
Bangladesh and India share water of 50 common rivers. The JRC governs 57 identified border rivers, 54 with India and 3 enter from Myanmar.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her recent visit to India sought cooperation from her counterpart for fair sharing of water of Teesta and other common rivers.
The life and livelihood of the millions of people of Bangladesh have been revolving around waters of the common rivers over the ages. The Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna river systems drain a total catchment area of about 1.72 million sq km through Bangladesh into the Bay of Bengal. Out of this large catchment area, only 7 per cent lies in Bangladesh. The other co-riparian countries are India, Nepal, Bhutan and China.
During the past two spells of 10 days each, India deprived Bangladesh 41,264 cusec of water through Farakka against its fair share mentioned in the indicative schedule-2 of the Ganges water sharing treaty signed in 1996.
Bangladesh and India share Ganges water each year from January 1 to May 31 as was designed in the Ganges water sharing treaty.
According to the treaty, Bangladesh and India is to equally share water if water flow is up to 70,000 cusec or less in the Farakka barrage point. Bangladesh is to get 35,000 cusec of water and India to get the rest if water at Farakka point is between 70,000 and 75,000 cusec. When water at Farakka point reaches more than 75,000 cusec, India is to get 40,000 cusec and Bangladesh to get the rest.
But statistics show that India never followed these terms and conditions of the accord and released less quantity of water for Bangladesh. It did not respon to protests lodged by the JRC, Bangladesh in the past.
Bangladesh and India share water of 50 common rivers. The JRC governs 57 identified border rivers, 54 with India and 3 enter from Myanmar.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her recent visit to India sought cooperation from her counterpart for fair sharing of water of Teesta and other common rivers.
The life and livelihood of the millions of people of Bangladesh have been revolving around waters of the common rivers over the ages. The Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna river systems drain a total catchment area of about 1.72 million sq km through Bangladesh into the Bay of Bengal. Out of this large catchment area, only 7 per cent lies in Bangladesh. The other co-riparian countries are India, Nepal, Bhutan and China.
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