Chronology of Events - The Ganga: Water Use in the Indian Subcontinent - page 233

Year Events

No elaborate discussion on the Bangladesh allegation is held on 24th November in
the General Assembly, because of lack of consensus among the members.
Bangladesh and India agree to abide by a consensus text, to be worked out by a
group of non-aligned countries.
The General Assembly adopts the final text which recognizes the urgency of the
situation and agrees to facilitate an atmosphere, conducive to the successful
outcome of the negotiation between the two countries. It also offers to both the
countries the option to again raise the issue at the 32nd session.
The meeting between the two governments in Dhaka and New Delhi remain
inconclusive.

1977 The Congress Party led by Mrs. Indira Gandhi is defeated in the General Election of

India in March and Janata Party, led by Morarji Desai comes to power.
Jagjivan Ram, Defence Minister of India and Rear Admiral M. H. Khan of
Bangladesh meet in Dhaka in April, where an understanding is reached on sharing
of water.
Mutual confidence, which went low after Mujibar Rahman's death, is restored, when
Morarji Desai and General Zia-ur Rahman meet in London during the
Commonwealth Conference. Many outstanding bilateral disputes, including the
sharing of the Ganga water are resolved.
A draft agreement for sharing of the Ganga water is initiated in September and
signed on 5th November by Surjit Singh Barnala, India's Minister for Agriculture
and Irrigation and M. H. Khan of Bangladesh.

Signing of Agreement, MOUs and Treaty, 1977-2000

Year Event

1977 An Agreement on sharing of water of the Ganga at Farakka between India and

Bangladesh is signed on 5th November.
The meeting between Morarji Desai and Zia-ur Rahman takes place in New
Delhi on 19th December to discuss follow-up action on the Ganga Water
Agreement.
The JRC is upgraded to the ministerial level.

1978 Jimmy Carter, the President of the USA, while addressing Indian Parliament on

2nd January refers to the development of the waters of the eastern region and
assures co-operation of the USA.
James Callaghan, the British Prime Minister, offers his country's assistance in
the development of the common rivers of India, Bangladesh and Nepal in a
press conference in New Delhi on 9th January.
The 14th meeting of the JRC held in Dhaka on 21st January, to discuss the best
means of augmentation of the dry-season flow of the Ganga.
The 15th meeting of the JRC is held in New Delhi on 5th July, attended by S. S.
Barnala, India's Minister for Irrigation and Power. Bangladesh suggests
associating Nepal in the augmentation scheme, which is rejected by India, as
the JRC is a bilateral body.
The 16th meeting of the JRC is held in Dhaka on 6th November and from 8th to
10th December in two sessions.