India, Bangladesh to Renegotiate Ganga Waters Treaty

July 5, 2024

The Ganga Waters Treaty, which India and Bangladesh signed in 1996, will be discussed again. This pact, which is mostly about the fair sharing of water from the Ganga River, which both countries share, needs to be renewed in 2026.

Recent Context of the Treaty Renewal

A new deal is going to be negotiated because Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said so while Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was in New Delhi on official business. The leaders decided to start talking about how to renew the agreement. They knew they needed to act quickly to deal with new problems, like how climate change changes water flows.

Climate Crisis Considerations

There is more and more worry about how the climate problem is changing the Ganga’s flow. Water availability changes because of extreme weather, changing rainfall trends, and melting glaciers. This is a key issue in the renegotiation of the treaty. New studies on these effects are now thought to be necessary to make sure the deal works and lasts.

Role of West Bengal Government

The participation of the West Bengal government in the upcoming talks is an important factor. Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of the state, is very important because any foreign agreement about shared water resources needs to be approved by the state. In the past, talks like those over the Teesta River deal were held up because the West Bengal government didn’t want to go through with them because they were afraid it would hurt the state’s water supply.

About Ganga Waters Treaty

Equitable Water Sharing: India and Bangladesh signed the Ganga Waters Treaty in 1996. It makes sure that everyone gets an equal share of the water and stops one country from taking it during dry seasons. The deal is meant to end disagreements by ensuring a certain flow of water to Bangladesh during times when drought is likely to happen.
Joint Monitoring Commission: A joint committee was set up to keep an eye on how the water is distributed and check the flow rates at the Farakka Barrage, which is close to their border. This group is in charge of making sure that the deal is followed and settling any disagreements that come up.
Long-term Cooperation: The Ganga Waters Treaty is a rare example of long-term river water-sharing cooperation in South Asia. It encourages the two countries to work together in the future, even though it has been criticized and faced problems.

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