Delhi Wants a ‘New Calculation’ on Ganges Water, Not the Old Treaty

India is reconsidering the Ganges River water-sharing treaty, which is set to expire in 2026. Citing “its own interests” and “current development needs,” Delhi is considering a new framework to replace the old agreement. This information was revealed in a report published today (Friday) by India’s leading daily, Times of India.According to the report, after moving toward scrapping the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, India is now focusing on amending the 1996 Ganges water-sharing treaty with Bangladesh, which expires in 2026. Before it does, Delhi wants to reach a new understanding that reflects India’s domestic needs and the current realities.Officials in India argue that the treaty signed 30 years ago is no longer compatible with present-day challenges such as climate change, agricultural expansion, power generation, and river management. Especially during the dry season, India’s water demand has increased many times over compared to before. Therefore, Delhi wants the opportunity to withdraw an additional 30,000 to 35,000 cusecs of water per year from the Farakka Barrage during March to May.The report also mentions that, since the Farakka Barrage is located in Malda district of West Bengal, the central government is giving importance to the opinion of the state government. However, this time both the central and West Bengal governments are saying in unison that the old treaty is inadequate to meet current needs.It is worth noting that, after a long-standing tug-of-war over Ganges water between Bangladesh and India, the two countries reached a 30-year agreement in 1996. The treaty was signed in December of that year during Sheikh Hasina’s first term. Under this treaty, from January to May each year during the dry season, Ganges water is shared between the two countries according to a fixed formula. During March to May, 35,000 cusecs of water is allocated every ten days in phases.However, India now wants to increase its allocation during this dry period. According to experts, this move by India is creating a new reality in South Asian water diplomacy. After practically annulling the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, this is India’s second major diplomatic maneuver in the region, which will put pressure on Bangladesh.Analysts fear that if India unilaterally sets the new framework, Bangladesh’s interests as a downstream country could be severely harmed. Since the commissioning of the Farakka Barrage, reduced flow in the Padma River has already increased the risk of desertification in Bangladesh’s southwest region, negatively impacting agriculture, fisheries, and biodiversity.So far, there has been no official response from the Bangladesh government on the matter. However, it is believed the issue will be discussed seriously at the upcoming meeting of the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC). Diplomatic circles in Bangladesh are reportedly monitoring the situation closely.