Bihar NDA Mounts Pressure Against Farakka Treaty Renewal, Putting Centre in a Bind
Bihar's ruling alliance opposes renewing the 1996 Ganges Water Treaty, citing floods and siltation, complicating Centre's diplomatic ties with Bangladesh.
A political and diplomatic confrontation is brewing over the future of the 1996 India-Bangladesh Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, commonly known as the Farakka treaty. With the pact set to lapse in December, Bihar's ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is intensifying its opposition to renewal, creating a delicate challenge for the BJP-led central government.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, who oversees the state's water resources, said the state had conveyed its concerns to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during a recent meeting in Delhi. Choudhary stated that the minister assured the delegation that their concerns would be addressed.
The state's push is also being driven by Janata Dal (United) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha, who has publicly urged the Centre not to renew the pact. Jha argued that the treaty has caused significant harm to Bihar, pointing to recurring floods, heavy siltation, and water shortages. He noted that as Bihar moves toward industrialisation, its water needs are growing, yet the treaty compels the state to release water to Bangladesh during the dry summer months.
The Farakka Barrage, built in 1975, was designed to divert Ganga water into the Hooghly River to keep Kolkata Port navigable. However, this has reduced downstream flow into Bangladesh, causing ecological stress there. The 1996 treaty established a 30-year framework for sharing water during the dry season, but it lacks a minimum flow guarantee, only mandating emergency consultations if flows drop drastically.
Bihar has long argued that the barrage has created a 'flood-and-parch' dynamic. The state contends that trapped silt has raised the riverbed, reducing its storage capacity and worsening floods in districts like Bhagalpur and Munger. Jha has called for a National Silt Management Policy and direct state representation in any future agreement.
The opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has highlighted a 2011 speech by party chief Lalu Prasad demanding the barrage's dismantling. JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar dismissed the RJD's current stance, questioning why Prasad did not oppose the treaty in 1996 when his party supported the central government.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar has emphasised that neighbourhood relations must be managed through mutual interest and common ground, underscoring the balancing act facing New Delhi between domestic regional concerns and strategic diplomacy with Bangladesh.