A Brief Discussion On Farakka Barrage & Ganges Treaty

After the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, India took initiative to construct a barrage on its side of the Ganges & commissioned it in 1975. In the past few decades, many of the rivers in Bangladesh, that originated in India, have either been diverted or dammed upstream, inside India. All of these hydro-development initiatives have left a profound impact on Bangladesh as it is receiving end of the Himalayan fluvial regime. In particular, Bangladesh's agriculture, fisheries, human health and wellbeing are reported to have been significantly affected by the disruption of natural water flow in its rivers. The debate over the water sharing issues between India & Bangladesh dates back as early as their birth but the historical developments of the disputes have never been adequately addressed in settling the issues. This paper analyzes the Farakka Barrage & the consequences of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, with some recommendations that can assist to decrease the barriers in this issue