Turmoil Over Water Diversion - The Ganga: Water Use in the Indian Subcontinent - page 129

Chapter 9
Turmoil Over Water Diversion

India's desire to get some water of the Ganga diverted into the Bhagirathi-Hooghly
to save Calcutta port gave rise to a severe conflict with former East Pakistan which
became Bangladesh in 1972. Dhaka even took the issue to the United Nations
and other international forums to drum up sympathy and support to its causes and
demands by them.
As stated, the Bhagirathi-Hooghly which was the main channel of the parent river
Ganga before the 16th century flows in its penultimate course through the Indian
state of West Bengal. It was not getting much of its discharge in the lean season
and remained virtually dry for over nine months in a year, owing to siltation of the
river mouth and the bed. Calcutta port on the eastern bank of the Hooghly was going
inactive, as vessels to and from could not ply on the decreasing depth of the river.
The shortage and increasing salinity of its water affected the large and densely pop-
ulated city of Kolkata, the suburbs and a huge number of industries on its banks up
and down stream. India constructed two barrages - one at Farakka in Murshidabad
district across the Ganga and other at a place called, Ahiron, also in Murshidabad,
across the Bhagirathi, a 40-km feeder canal, a number of cross-drainage struc-
tures, embankments, roads, river-training works etc., spread over 7,500 km 2
(150

50 km) in the districts of Murshidabad and Malda in West Bengal. The
aim was to divert 40,000 cusecs of water into the Bhagirathi-Hooghly, round the
year, which would gradually restore the river to 1936 condition. If it occurred,
vessels of 7.9 m draft could come near the port area and ensure sweet water sup-
ply to the city of Kolkata and Howrah and their suburbs. On the basis of relevant
records, it was assessed that the availability of water in the lean season at Farakka
was around 55,000 cusecs. After diverting 40,000 cusecs through the feeder canal,
the remaining 15,000 cusecs could be given to Bangladesh along the Padma chan-
nel. Bangladesh protested that this quantity would be woefully inadequate. Dhaka
initially objected to the commissioning of the barrage at Farakka before a proper
sharing of the Ganga water was agreed to by the two countries. This gave rise to a
conflict with far-reaching consequences.

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