Agreements & MOUs - The Ganga: Water Use in the Indian Subcontinent - page 196

From the beginning, both the governments revived interest in a solution, clearing
the air of suspicion and mistrust. In Bangladesh, farmers were groaning for water
for irrigating farm land; towns and industries on the banks of the Gorai suffered for
lack of adequate water. The new government resumed dialogues on water-sharing of
the Ganga and other common rivers. India took the initiative on 5 th July 1996, when
New Delhi sent its foreign secretary, Salman Hyder to Bangladesh to hand over a
letter from the Prime Minister to Bangladesh premier on the issues. In Dhaka, he
discussed the matter with Bangladesh foreign secretary and assured him of India's
interest in an abiding solution before the next dry season of 1997. The JCE came
up with a proposal on the subject. In October 1996, India's and Bangladesh's for-
eign ministers visited Dhaka and New Delhi (and Kolkata), respectively came closer
in their views. Jyoti Basu, the then Chief Minister of West Bengal also visited
Bangladesh on 27 th November 1996 and reached an understanding with Dhaka on
water-sharing issue on a permanent basis. Returning to Kolkata, Mr. Basu hinted at
signing a short-term agreement with Dhaka for two to three year, but it was seen
later that he was really in favour of a long-term agreement.
Thirty-Year Treaty on Water-Sharing
Accompanied with her Water Resources Minister, Abdur Razzak and senior offi-
cers, Bangladesh premier, Sheikh Hasina came to New Delhi on 10 th December
1996 and met Prime Minister Deva Gauda and senior Indian officers. Jyoti Basu
was called to New Delhi to meet her. A momentous 30-year Treaty was signed
on 12 th December 1996 between India and Bangladesh on the sharing of the Ganga
water in lean season at Farakka with immediate effect. Under it, each country would
receive a guaranteed flow of 35,000 cusecs (991 cumecs) in the lean season, from
11 th Marchto10 th May. It was based on a formula that took into account average
availability of water at Farakka to be 70,000 cusecs (1982), during the past 40 years,
from 1949 to 1988), on 50:50 basis. If the availability went up to 75,000 cusecs,
Bangladesh will get 35,000 cusecs and India 40,000 cusecs through the feeder canal.
If it exceeded 75,000 cusecs, India will get 40,000 cusecs and release the balance to
Bangladesh.
As provided in the earlier Agreement and the MOUs of 1977, 1982 and 1985,
water-sharing under the new Treaty would be on the basis of alternating three
10-daily periods, each month in the lean season, from 1 st January to 31 st May,
although the critical period was from 1 st March to 20 th May, when the discharge
in the river fell to the minimum. If the discharge fell below 70,000 cusecs, each
country would receive a reduced quota. The Treaty also ensured that if the flow was
less, at least one side would get its guaranteed share of 35,000 cusecs in one 10-daily
period.
The Treaty has 12 Articles as against 15 in 1977 agreement. The full text of the
treaty is given in Appendix D. A broad indicative schedule, giving the formula of
sharing is annexed as I and II. The annexure-I gives a broad indication of sharing
and a detailed agreement. These imply that every effort would be made by the upper
riparian States of India - Bihar and Uttar Pradesh - to keep flow of the Ganga at
Farakka at the 40 years' average of 70,000 cusecs. If the flow at Farakka goes below