TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
THE CONTEXT: India and Bangladesh are preparing to negotiate the renewal of the Ganga Waters Treaty, a crucial agreement for sharing the waters of the Ganga river.
EXPLANATION:
Historical Context
- India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers, making water sharing a critical bilateral issue.
- The Ganga water sharing agreement was successfully signed in 1996.
- It was followed by the construction of the Farakka Barrage.
- The Teesta water sharing issue gained prominence in the 2010s.
- In 2011, during the United Progressive Alliance-II government, India and Bangladesh nearly reached an agreement on the Teesta waters, but it fell through when Banerjee withdrew her support.
- The 2011 Proposal
- The 2011 proposal for sharing Teesta waters suggested that India would receive 42.5% of the river’s water, while Bangladesh would get 37.5% from December to March.
- The Teesta river, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, originates from the Tso Lhamo Lake in north Sikkim and flows through West Bengal into Bangladesh.
- It is Bangladesh’s fourth largest trans-boundary river, with a floodplain covering 2,750 square kilometers in the country.
- However, 83% of the river’s catchment area lies in India, with the remaining 17% in Bangladesh, supporting 8.5% of its population and 14% of its crop production.
Impact of Climate Change
- The climate crisis is a significant factor in the upcoming negotiations.
- Studies indicate that climate change will alter water levels in the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers over the next three decades, potentially leading to a sharp decrease in flow after 2050.
- This reduction will impact drinking water, irrigation, and electricity production for around 250 million people living downstream.
- Negotiations will need to incorporate adaptive measures to address climate change impacts. This includes:
- Data-Driven Insights: Utilizing robust data-sharing mechanisms and joint monitoring efforts.
- Science-Based Water Allocation: Developing frameworks for sustainable water management.
- Proactive Flood Management: Implementing strategies to handle the dynamic shifts in river flows due to extreme weather conditions.
Role of the West Bengal Government
- The West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister, plays a crucial role in the treaty’s renewal.
- States through which cross-border rivers pass must approve any water-sharing treaty or its renewal.
- West Benagal CM’s opposition to the Teesta river treaty, citing potential adverse effects on West Bengal, illustrates the state’s significant influence.
Recent Developments
- Banerjee has expressed concerns about the renewal process, claiming that the West Bengal government was not consulted.
- An internal committee, including representatives from West Bengal and Bihar, was formed in July 2023 by the Union Jal Shakti ministry.
- West Bengal nominated its representative to the committee in August 2023 and participated in three out of four meetings.
- The state provided its drinking and industrial water requirements for inclusion in the treaty beyond 2026.
Concerns of Bangladesh
- Bangladesh has expressed concerns about any potential reduction in the water quantum provided under the treaty.
- The treaty has facilitated regular data sharing and coordination, and any reduction could be politically challenging to justify domestically.
- Experts emphasized the need for incorporating climate change considerations and ensuring equitable water distribution.
- The necessity for recalibrating the treaty to address climate change, balancing equitable distribution with ecological resilience, and adopting data-driven and science-based frameworks for sustainable water management has been highlighted.
Ganga Water Sharing Treaty
- The Ganga water sharing treaty with Bangladesh, signed in 1996, is up for renewal in 2026.
- The Ganges Water Sharing Treaty between India and Bangladesh, signed in 1996, is a landmark agreement that established a 30-year water-sharing arrangement for the Ganges River.
- The key points of the treaty are:
- The treaty divides the flow of the Ganges River at the Farakka Barrage between India and Bangladesh during the dry season (January 1 to May 31) based on a formula outlined in the treaty.
- The treaty guarantees that Bangladesh will receive a minimum of 35,000 cusecs (991 m³/s) of water in alternate 10-day periods during the critical period of March 11 to May 10.
- The treaty recognizes Bangladesh’s rights as a lower riparian country and aims to ensure equitable distribution of the Ganges waters.
- The treaty is renewable after 30 years by mutual consent of both countries.
- West Bengal CM has highlighted the adverse effects of this treaty on West Bengal, including changes in the Ganga’s morphology and displacement of people due to river erosion.
- She pointed out that reduced silt load in the Hooghly River has impacted the nourishment of the Sundarban delta, leading to significant ecological and livelihood challenges.
Teesta river:
- Teesta river is a tributary of the Brahmaputra (known as Jamuna in Bangladesh), flowing through India and Bangladesh.
- It originates in the Himalayas near Chunthang, Sikkim and flows to the south through West Bengal before entering Bangladesh.
- The Teesta Barrage dam helps to provide irrigation for the plains between the upper Padma and the Jamuna.
- Importance of Teesta River:
- For Bangladesh:
- Its flood plain covers about 14% of the total cropped area of Bangladesh and provides direct livelihood opportunities to approximately 73% of its population.
- For West Bengal:
- For Bangladesh:
- Teesta is the lifeline of North Bengal and almost half a dozen of districts of West Bengal are dependent on the waters of Teesta.