FARKKAH- An

Ironical And
Dangerous Man-made
Threat To
BANGLADESH By
Giant Neighbor INDIA
Dr. Aktarul Islam
Akhlaque-E-Rasul
 INTRODUCTION

Ø The world’s 263 trans-boundary lake and river

basins include the territory of 145 countries
Ø Out of 263 trans-boundary rivers and lakes, 57
are located in Bangladesh of which 54 rivers are
trans-boundary with India.
Ø Ganges-Padma is one of the three mighty trans-
boundary rivers
Ø India violating conditions of signed MoU
(memorandum of understanding ), agreement and
treaty as well as international laws
 GANGES-PADMA

The mighty river Ganges is originated in the Gongothry Glacier of the

Himalaya, the largest mountain of the world.
Gagnges and its tributaries
Ganges in Banaras
 Farakkah Barrage
ü Completed in 1974-75, the Farakkah Barrage is a dam on the
Ganges River located in the Indian state of West Bengal, roughly
at a distance of 10 kilometers (km) from the border with
Bangladesh in Chapainawabgang

ü It was built to divert the to divert 40,000 cfs of the Ganges water
into the Baghirati-Hooghly River during the dry season

ü To ostensibly flush out the accumulating silts from the bed of

the river which in the 1950s and 1960s was a problem at the
major port of Kolkata on the Hooghly River and thereby improving
the navigability at the Calcutta Port.

ü This is the longest barrage in the world and has recently been
entered into the Guinness Book of World Records.
 MoU
Ø An interim agreement was signed between India and
Bangladesh in April 18, 1975.

Ø Bangladesh Government consented to withdraw

11000 to 16000 cusec water for every 10 days through
the feeder canal of Farakka dam only for 41 days from
April 21, 1975 to May 31, 1975.

Ø Unfortunately India withdrew the water even after 41

days violating the agreement.
 Protest Against Farakka Barrage

üLong March lead by Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan

Vasanee May-15 to 16, 1976

üAbout one million people participated in the grand

procession.

üNews media, print media, intellectuals, experts and

specialists, writers, and people from all walks of life
were come into unique entity.

üConsequently Government raised the Farakka issue

to OIC and UN.
 Out come of the protest
üAn agreement of five years between Bangladesh and
India with a grantee clause of ensuring 80% water of
existing normal flow to Bangladesh at any time was
signed on November 1977.
üThe agreement was revised again in 1982 for two
years.
üIn 1985 an MoU between Bangladesh and India with
the guarantee clause for three years was signed in
1985.
üWithin 1992 to 1996 no agreement and MoU was
prevailed.
üHowever in 1996, an agreement for thirty years was
signed.
 Out come of the agreement
q Even after signing treaty, agreement and MoU with or
without guarantee clause, India did not ensure the legal water
share to Bangladesh in any year since 1976.

q In March 30, 1993, water flow at Hardinge Bridge reached

to 9,218 cusec (when there was no term agreement, treaty or
MoU).

q In March 27, 1997, water flow at Hardinge Bridge reached

to 6,457 cusec (when there is long term treaty of 30 year).

q India’s contention was that in fact Bangladesh had drawn

more than its agreed share of water on nine occasions and
only in March they had received less than their share which
was totally false.
 The Major Effects of Farakkah on
Bangladesh
q Reduction in agricultural products due to
insufficient water for irrigation.
q Reduction in aquatic population.
q Transportation problems: boats rendered
useless; tributaries are dry during dry season.
q Increased salinity threatening crops, animal
life drinking water, and industrial activities in
southwest Bangladesh.
• At Hardinge Bridge point water level also goes
down as follows (BWDB)
Year Minimum water level (m) Average water level (m)
1970 6.6 6.66-7
1971 6.7
1972 6.7
1973 6.5
1974 6.8
1989 5.5 5.02
1990 5.2
1991 5.2
1992 4.8
1993 4.3
At Harding Bridge water flow (cumecs) was
observed as follows
Month 1970-1974 1984-1988 1989-1993
January 3190 2000 1344
February 2680 1408 731
March 2373 1142 538
April 2238 1026 607
May 2025 1337 1067
June 5098 3388 3578
July 19800 25080 1050
August 35480 41960 28820
September 34375 41800 32620
October 17325 18000 14486
November 7210 6500 4554
December 4600 2642 2308
Hardinge Bridge at Pakshi over Padma in dry
season
• Observation of Groundwater level (average) at
Rajshahi at well RS29 of BWDB shows crucial
situation
Year Water level in meter (m)
1971-1973 11.5 - 12.5
1973-1975 12.5 - 13.5
1975-1977 13.5 - 10.3
1977-1979 10.3 - 11.0
1979-1981 11.5 - 12.0
1981-1983 12.0 - 10.0
1983-1985 10.0 - 11.0
1985-1987 11.0 - 8.00
1987-1989 8.00 - 6.00
1989-1991 6.00 - 8.50
1991-1993 8.50 - 7.00
Fields without crops turned commencing desertification on
both banks of Padma in dry season
Chalanbeel without water in dry season
Water level at Beramarah pump station (PWDB and WDB).

Year Water Level Minimum Water

(meter ) Level Required
(meter )
1965-70 6.5-6.8 4.3
1980-75 6.0-6.8
1975-80 5.5-6.0
1980-85 5.3-6.0
1985-90 5.7-6.3
1990-95 4.2-5.0
1995 4.2-5.0
Environmental Impacts of Farakka
Increase Flood tendency in rainy season due to the release of surplus water
Low flow in dry season
Salinity intrusion in new areas
Salinity increase in existing saline zone
Desertification and draughtness
Suppression on the river course
Change in the river course and redistribution of water flow
Siltation in the river bed
Loss of fertility of the soil
Reduction of wetland
Effects on Sundarban: loss of animal, plant, birds, reptile and fish biodiversity
Reduction in river navigability
Adverse effects on cultivation and agriculture
Adverse effects on landuse
Declination of surface water level and groundwater level
Destruction of Forest
Environmental Impact of Farakka
Destruction of production of vegetables and fruits
Damage of water resources and water sources
Destruction of fish
Waterway transport facilities are out of order
Deterioration of ecosystem (both terrestrial and aquatic)
Causes arsenic contamination
Reduction of fresh water
Decrease in food production and other crops
Decrease of growth rate
Reduction of soil moisture content
Plankton, flora and fauna are under stress
Increase the frequency of very large and small floods
Decrease of groundwater recharge
Affects on new land reclamation from the Bay of Bengal
Decrease in water supply (domestic or irrigation)
Drying of tributaries of Ganges, 25 lost completely and 17 tends to die.
Socio-economic Impact
Adverse effect on settlements
Adverse effect on public life
Adverse effect on public health
Deteriorating of the living standard
Worseningand Loss of the business and trade
Reduction of energy
Reduction of fuel
Increase in social instability
Increase of unemployment
Increase of poverty
Increase of migration
Reduction of industrial output
Increase of food import
Thirty million lives are affected through environmental and economical ruin
An estimated annual economic loss of over a billion dollars in agricultural,
fisheries, navigation and industries
 WHAT TO BE DONE
?
v Bilateral Efforts through JRC (Joint River
Commission)
v Bilateral negotiation in presence of third
party
v River Basin Based Regional Multilateral
Efforts
v International Efforts
v Internal Efforts
Lower part of Ganga
Upper part of Ganga
Thank You