Turmoil Over Water Diversion - The Ganga: Water Use in the Indian Subcontinent - page 133

Table 9.1 Demand of water by Pakistan (Badal Sen, 1980)

Demand during the years

Details 1954 20.06.60 01.10.60 28.04.61 07.12.62 13.05.68

Quantity of water
demanded
(Cusecs) 2,000 3,500 18,090 29,352 32,010 49,000

Average area to be
brought under
cultivation (in
million acres) 0.2 0.35 1.98 3.48 3.48 4.25

The Ganga-Padma basin is shared by three countries - Nepal, India and
Pakistan - in the ratio of about 18.3, 81 and 0.6 respectively, China has a very small
share of about 0.1 only. According to the ratio, India's contribution is 81% against
Pakistan's only 0.6%, over which the water of either river flows and falls into the
Ganga. The ever-increasing demand of East Pakistan from 2,000 cusecs in 1954
to 49,000 cusecs in 1968 i.e. rising by about 25 times in 14 years, was contested
by India on the basis of proportionate distribution of the basin area, the population
settled on it, the extent of cultivable and fallow land as well as intensity of irriga-
tion of the two countries, pertaining to the Ganga basin. Although under the rule
of proportion, East Pakistan should get only 300 cusecs of water out of the total
lean-season flow of 50,000 cusecs at Farakka, i.e., only 0.6%, arithmetic should not
override basic human needs of water. Some basic factors governing equitable distri-
bution of water between co-riparian countries were considered by the International
Law Association in 1966 in its 52nd meeting at Helsinki. It laid down some criteria
on sharing of water between the basin countries but in the case of the Ganga water
diversion, both countries stuck to their stands and no solution could be reached
until 1971.
Pakistani defence forces launched an attack on the security forces and civilian
population on its own territory, East Pakistan in December 1971. At the initia-
tive of the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, India gave all help for the rescue
and relief of the attacked people and ultimately, the territory was liberated from
Pakistan and took the name of Bangladesh on 16th December 1971. Pakistan lost
its eastern wing and retained only West Pakistan. Thus, the new Bangladesh gov-
ernment, headed by Sheikh Mujibar Rahaman, inherited the problem of sharing the
Ganga water at Farakka. He was first sworn in as the Prime Minister and thereafter
as the President of Bangladesh after a constitution of the new country was adopted
with the co-operation of India in the changed scenario. The Indo-Bangladesh Joint
Rivers Commission (JRC) was set up in June, 1972 to resolve the dispute on sharing
of water of all rivers, flowing through both the countries, including the Ganga.
Then first meeting was held between 20th and 28th January 1972 in New Delhi.
India was represented by Sardar Swaran Singh, External Affairs (Foreign) Minister
and Dr. K. L. Rao, Irrigation Minister. Bangladesh was represented by B. M. Abbas,