Agreements & MOUs - The Ganga: Water Use in the Indian Subcontinent - page 152

of two countries met at New Delhi from 18 th to 22 nd November 1985 to evolve
the terms of reference of a joint study by the Joint Committee of Experts (JCE) of
water resources, available to both countries to identify options for the water-sharing
for mutual benefit, including a long-term augmentation scheme. They also agreed
to sign a MOU for sharing the Ganga water at Farakka for three years, commenc-
ing from the dry season of 1986 on the same terms as of the 1982 MOU. It was
further agreed that the JCE would study two aspects - (a) sharing available water
resources, common to both countries; and (b) augmentation of the dry-season flows
of the Ganga at Farakka. The study was to be completed in 12 months, at the end
of which a summit-level meeting between the two countries would take place to
approve it. It was also agreed that an interim sharing ratio would be followed for
next three dry seasons (1986-1988) with the same joint observation and monitoring
that in case of exceptionally low flows in any of them, the two governments would
hold immediate discussion and decide how to minimize the burden to either country.
Afterwards, a Secretary-level meeting of the two countries, held on
22 nd November 1985, defined the sharing ratio in the event of exceptionally low
flow at Farakka. It was decided that up to, and above, 75% of the standard flow
for a corresponding 10-daily period, the release to Bangladesh would be pro-rata.
However, if the flow at Farakka fell below 75%, the burden will be shared by India
and Bangladesh on 50-50 basis. The copy of the MOU is enclosed at Appendix D.
Discussion on MOUs
All these years, joint observations at Farakka and Hardinge Bridge continued in a
cordial atmosphere, but the JRC could not arrive at a decision on augmentation of the
Ganga flow at Farakka. The 1982 and 1985 MOUs were nothing but extensions of
the terms of the 1977 Agreement with slight modification of sharing ratios at certain
10-daily periods in January, February, March and May, which figure in Table 10.2.
The table shows that there were some changes in release of water to both India
and Bangladesh in some periods of the lean season in the MOUs of 1982 and 1985,
compared to those in 1977 Agreement. However, there was no change in the MOUs
of 1982 and 1985.
Thus, the modifications were the minimum, with very little effect on either side.
The two MOUs were extended to give an opportunity to the JRC and experts of
both countries to come to an understanding on the proposal for augmentation of
flow at Farakka. Other terms and conditions remained practically the same, except
in case of exceptionally low flow seasons, where the burden on India was substan-
tially reduced. The concession, given in the MOUs gave some relief to India. The
two MOUs showed the desire of both countries to come to a solution of this long-
standing dispute in a spirit of 'bilateralism' and without involving any third country,
but this amicability disappeared after 1988 and no further agreement, or MOU, came
up until 1996, as we shall see soon.