Write a short note on water disputes between India and Bangladesh
Answers
Explanation:
In 1961, India released plans to build the Farakka Barrage seventeen kilometres upstream from the border of Bangladesh. The purpose of the barrage was to divert water from the Ganges in order to reduce silt build up in Calcutta Port. Diversion of water from the Ganges had severe consequences on water availability downstream in Bangladesh. Changing rainfall and water use patterns upstream in Nepal have since further exacerbated water stress along the Ganges, leading to the inequitable distribution of water based on the requirements of the 1996 treaty. Diplomatic relations regarding water cooperation remain contentious.
The construction of the Farakka Barrage in India along the Ganges has created water stress in Bangladesh by exacerbating the dry season and increasing the likelihood of flooding. The two countries have engaged in various levels of negotiations but have not yet agreed upon a solution to augment the Ganges to meet the needs of both states, particularly in the context of changing climate conditions.