Govt planning to enter into water sharing agreements for other 53 rivers
Staff Correspondent
Bangladesh is deprived of proper share in Ganges water as per treaty as India is not providing expected flow of water as required by the agreement signed between two countries in 1996.
Article 2(2) of Sharing of the Ganges Waters stipulates that effort will be made by the upper riparian state to protect the flows of water at Farakka as per 40 years of average availability but India is violating this provision.
Talking to The Bangladesh, Dr Ain-un-Nishat said Bangladesh is getting waters of Ganges as found at Farakka point but supply of waters to Farakka point is too little for Bangladesh.
He said “There are three parts in this treaty. Article-1 provides for sharing of water as available at Farakka but my understanding is that allocation to Bangladesh is made based on this provision. But Article-2 (2) stipulates that India will protect the flow at a specified level. Unless this protection mechanism is in operation the residual flow that arrives at Farakka may not be the flow that matches 40 years average condition. In short, the flow distributed has not been protected by India as per provision of the treaty.”
Second part of the treaty stipulates that as present level of flow at Farakka is not adequate, it must be augmented. But this aspect of the treaty remains unattended, he alleged.
He said third part of the treaty had proposed agreement on all other common rivers. In my view the government should arrive at sharing arrangement or joint management plan as soon as possible to safeguard the interest of the country.
“Had Bangladesh entered into water sharing agreement with India in 1972/ 1973, it would not be deprived of river waters now. What India is doing now is that it is supplying residual water to Farakka to be shared by Bangladesh as India is either withdrawing water from upper riparian rivers or diverting water flows to other rivers within India by river linking projects,” he added.
Water Resources Ministry said total flow reaching at Farakka during the first ten days of February, 2009 was 81,650 cusec which was lower than the 40 years historical average flow of 86,323 cusec as mentioned in treaty. Bangladesh was supposed to get 46, 323 cusec water but it has got actually 41,650 cusec water in first ten days of February. Similarly, Bangladesh is being continuously deprived of its share despite the agreement.
However, ministry sources confirmed that the government led by Awami League is considering entering into fresh agreements with India in respect of remaining 53 joint rivers to share waters from those as well but as to when such water-sharing agreement will be arrived at is entirely uncertain.
Courtesy: thebangladeshtoday.com
