"Farakka Barrage - A Disastrous Threat for Bangladesh!"

The name Bangladesh has become synonymous with Natural disasters which are beyond the control of human beings. But in recent years, a man-made disaster known as the Farakka Barrage has seriously affected Bangladesh's agriculture, navigation, fisheries, forestry, salinity and various components of the ecosystem.

The Farakka Dam on the Ganges River is located in West Bengal State of India nearly 10 kilometers from the border of Rajshahi. In 1975 India completed the Farakka Barrage about 11 miles from the borders of Bangladesh to divert 40,000 cfs of the Ganges water into the Bhagirati-Hoogly River with the ostensible purpose of flushing the accumulated silts from the bed of the river and thereby improving the navigability at the Calcutta Port. The unilateral withdrawal of the Ganges water during the low flow months has caused both long-term and short-term effects in Bangladesh.
This barrage has two different affects during the two seasons. During the dry season India withdraws the water in huge quantity and in monsoon period she opens the gates of this Farakka Barrage and because of that Bengal is getting over flooded.


Consequence of this barrage : 40 millions people, mainly peasants are directly affected; 70 millions people have been infected with arsenic disease as people are compelled to use the underground water for their drinking and agricultural purpose.

Long-Term Impacts on Bangladesh:

a) One fourth of the fertile agricultural land will become wasteland due to a shortage of water.

b) Thirty million lives are affected through environmental and economical ruin.

c) An estimated annual economic loss of over half a billion dollars in agricultural, fisheries, navigation and industries.

d) Frequent flooding due to environmental imbalance and changes in the natural flow of the Ganges.

The Immediate Effect on Bangladesh:

a) Reduction in agricultural products due to insufficient water for irrigation.

b) Reduction in aquatic population.

c) Transportation problems: boats rendered useless; tributaries are dry during dry season.

d) Increased salinity threatening crops, animal life drinking water, and industrial activities in southwest Bangladesh.

(source)
India is not only withdrawing the water from the Ganges but also from other 53 common international rivers shared by two countries. More than one third territory of Bangladesh The Farakka Barrage is not only threatening the very existence of Bengal but also provoking the very environment.
India has declared the ecological war against the Bengal. The Farakka Barrage is the "Atom Bomb" for Bangladesh. It is the biggest crime against the humanity of this nature that ever happened in the World History. In 1998 30 million people were affected by the flood caused by the Farakka Barrage.
World Bank, I.M.F and other international financial institutions have got the involvement and are the direct beneficiaries of this catastrophic situation. The adverse affect of the globalization on ecology and environment, the Bengal is the worst victim.
Bengal's major economy is based on the agriculture. Without water for irrigation and over flooded situation made Bengal one of the poorest countries of the World.
Whole social, economic and political systems are directly co-related with this Farakka Barrage. The decree of poverty has provoked the victim to do women and child smuggling. Five million Women and girls have been already smuggled and kidnapped and sold to the prostitute markets of the India and Pakistan. Every year thousands of the children are being stolen and kidnapped and their organs are smuggled to the foreign countries. Some portion of these children are also sold to the oil-rich middle-est countries to be used as the carrier of the camel in camel race. (...)

0n May 16 in 1976, the populist leader of the country, Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani led a massive Long March from Rajshahi towards Farakka dam of India demanding demolition of the dam constructed by Indian government.
Bangladesh and India have had many debates about how the Dam cuts off Bangladesh's water supply.
India had constructed Farakka dam denying the International River Law. At that time Moulana Bhasani called the programme and formed a massive long march to Farakka dam. The people of the country had responded to his call in the interest of the country.
On the morning of May 16, thousands of people had gathered at the Madrash Miadan of Rajshahi and from the maidan they walked more than 100 kilometers on foot to Farakka dam. The-then government of Bangladesh unofficially supported Farakka Long March of Moulana Bhashani.
It was the first popular movement against India demanding a rightful distribution of the water of Ganges. Since then historic Farakka Long March Day is observed on May 16 every year.

Other steps Taken to Resolve the Problem:

a) Since 1951 negotiations between the former governement of Pakistan and India did not bear any results.

b) After Independence the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission met over 90 times without any results.

c) In April 1975, Bangladesh agreed to a trial operation of the Farakka Barrage for the period from April 21-May 31 to divert 11,000-16,000 cfs. India, however, continued to divert the full capacity of 40,000 cfs after May 31.

d) On November 26, 1976 the U.N. General Assembly adopted a consensus statement directing the parties to arribe at a fair and expeditious settelement.

e) On November 5, 1977 the Ganges Waters Agreement was signed, assuring 34,500 cfs for Bangladesh.

Time line in water sharing:

a) In April 1975, Bangladesh agreed to a trial operation of the Farakka Barrage for the period from April 21-May 31 to divert 11,000-16,000 cfs. India, however, continued to divert the full capacity of 40,000 cfs after May 31.

b) On November 26, 1976 the U.N. General Assembly adopted a consensus statement directing the parties to arribe at a fair and expeditious settelement.

c) On November 5, 1977 the Ganges Waters Agreement was signed, assuring 34,500 cfs for Bangladesh.

d) The five-year treaty expired in 1982 and after several shorter extensions, lapsed entirely in 1989. During the period from 1978 to 82 Bangladesh received more than its share for all the years excepting one when the flow at Farakka fall unexpectedly but the India released the guaranteed minimum flow. MOU signed in 1982 without the guarantee clause was expired in 1985 and extended to 1988 through two other similar extensions. From 1989 onward India refused to come to any deal with the Bangladesh on Ganges water sharing.

e) No treaty or agreement existed till 1996 during which the average low flow has come down to 10,000 to 12,000 cusec with one extreme event of 9000 cusec. India was diverting the water at their will with complete disregard of Bangladesh's fair share.

f) On 12 December 1996, Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina Wajed and H. D. Deve Gowda, of Bangladesh and India, respectively, signed a thirty year long treaty in New Delhi on the sharing of Ganges water. The Treaty addresses the heart of the conflict: water allocation (35,000 cusecs) during the five months of the dry season (January-May). During the rest of the year, there is sufficient water that India can operate the Farakka diversion without creating problems for Bangladesh. The treaty stipulates that below a certain flow rate, India and Bangladesh will each share half of the water. Above a certain limit, Bangladesh will be guaranteed a certain minimum level, and if the water flow exceeds a given limit, India will withdraw a given amount, and the balance will be received by Bangladesh (which will be more than 50%).

g) Due to the absence of cooperation and implementation mechanism, the treaty in reality did not solve the problem. The very first season following signing of the treaty, in April 1997, India and Bangladesh were involved in their first dispute over cross-boundary flow. -Water passing through the Farakka dam dropped below the minimum provided in the treaty, prompting Bangladesh to request a review of the state of the watershed. (source)

h) A critical evaluation of the 1996 treaty.

Bangladesh has again asked India for discharge of more water through the Farakka barrage to keep river routes in its territory navigable.

Current Status:
The five-year treaty expired in 1982 and after several shorter extensions, lapsed entirely in 1989. India is now diverting 40,000 cfs with complete disregard of Bangladesh's fair share.
(source)

More than 200 river basins are shared by two or nore countries. The sharing of river basins between countries is the rule rather than the exception. Bangladesh values its friendship with all nations and sincerely urges all nations and humanitarian agencies to utilize their resources to resolve this life-threatening situation. A massive long march towards Tipaimukh Dam, like the historic Long March from Rajshahi towards Farakka dam led by Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, is needed in this situation to protest the construction of the Tipaimukh dam by Monipur State government of India just, a kilometre from the border of Zakigonj of Sylhet. So, for the sake of our nation, to help our dearest motherland in developing without any flow, there is no other way but to raise our voices in "International Court for Humanity" and stand up unitedly once again.

Related resource: International Farakka Committee.

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