Ganges Barrage

Current project scrapped

Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, yesterday, said that the proposed Ganges Barrage Project (GBP) has been abandoned.

The announcement came a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described the project plan as faulty and suicidal like the Teesta Barrage.
However, during the Prime Minister’s recent trip to India, Bangladesh had solicited India’s participation and assurance in construction of the GBP.
“A high-powered technical committee will be formed to examine the project. It’s a question of design—so where and how it will be constructed should be examined, considering the impact of the Farakka Barrage,” Anisul Islam Mahmud told reporters, after a meeting with a six-member Chinese delegation—led by water resources minister Chen Lei—at the secretariat.

“We have agreements with India regarding water sharing. Bangladesh had signed a 30-year water-sharing treaty in 1996 with India. So, the high-powered committee will also examine how to ensure optimal usage of the Ganges water entering Bangladesh through the Farakka Barrage,” the water resources minister said.
Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of the Indian state of Bihar, had recently raised questions about the impact of Farakka Barrage, the minister said, adding that concepts are changing continuously and the committee will explore other options to implement the GBP.
“We are re-examining the study on GBP. A Chinese company is now conducting a study on the project, using its own funds. So, we are thinking of other options—whether the Ganges Barrage should be constructed on the main river or any branch river, considering the impact of the Farakka Barrage,” Anisul Islam Mahmud said.
The construction of the Farakka Barrage began in the early 1960s and it was made operational in 1975.
Bangladesh has disputes with India over sharing of waters of common rivers, including the Ganges, and the two countries signed a 30-year water-sharing treaty in 1996.
According to the water resources ministry, the BWDB had taken up the Ganges Barrage Project in 2002 and conducted a pre-feasibility study for the barrage in the same year.
The BNP-led Four-Party Alliance government had shelved the BWDB’s proposal for conducting a detailed feasibility study.
However, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) finally got the green signal in 2009 and completed the study by December 2012, on implementing the GBP.
Some Asian countries, like China and Japan, and international organisations like the World Bank have expressed interest in financing the mega project.
According to an estimate, about 19 lakh hectares of arable land in greater Kushtia, Faridpur, Jessore, Khulna, Barisal, Pabna and Rajshahi districts will be benefited.
A 165-km-long reservoir from Pangsa of Rajbari to Chapainawabganj via Pabna, with 12.5-metre of depth, will help produce 25 lakh tonnes additional food grains and 2.4 lakh tonnes of fish.
The soil salinity level in the areas surrounding the south-western rivers, including the Gorai, Hisna, Modhumati, Katakhali, Bishnu, Chandana, Chitra, Nabaganga, Chandana, Mathabhanga, Afra, Bhairab, Betna, Kobadak, Sibsa and the Baleswar will reduce significantly during the lean period and the barrage would help to protect the Sundarbans.
The barrage will have 96 gates. Of them, 78 gates with spillways on the top and 18 under sluice gates.
It would take seven years to construct the 2.1-km-long barrage, including the same length (2.1km) of railway bridge, with nine regulators and 10 bridges. A total of 1,100km long river would be needed to dredge for the barrage.
The barrage would help meet the demand for water of 118 small- and medium-sized projects including GK project and Pabna irrigation project, he added.
He further said the south-west and south-central rivers and estuary region, including 21 districts, will be under the project and the farmers of the areas will able to cultivate their land through irrigation, during dry season.
The Ganga originates from the Himalayas, and flows southeast through the plains of north India towards Bangladesh. Before crossing the border, it bifurcates at Jangipur, of which the minor right-hand branch Bhagirathi passes through India to the sea. The left-hand major branch, to the southeast, crosses the border and flows about 250 km to meet the Jamuna at Goalondo.

Ganges Barrage

Current project scrapped

Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, yesterday, said that the proposed Ganges Barrage Project (GBP) has been abandoned. The announcement came a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described the project plan as faulty and suicidal like the Teesta Barrage. However, during the Prime Ministers recent trip to India, Bangladesh had solicited Indias participation and assurance in construction of the GBP. A high-powered technical committee will be formed to examine the project. Its a question of designso where and how it will be constructed should be examined, considering the impact of the Farakka Barrage, Anisul Islam Mahmud told reporters, after a meeting with a six-member Chinese delegationled by waterresources minister Chen Leiat the secretariat. We have agreements with India regarding water sharing. Bangladesh had signed a 30-year water-sharing treaty in 1996 with India. So, the high-powered committee will also examine how to ensure optimal usage of the Ganges water entering Bangladesh through the Farakka Barrage, the water resources minister said. Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of the Indian state of Bihar, had recently raised questions about the impact of Farakka Barrage, the minister said, adding that concepts are changing continuously and the committee will explore other options to implement the GBP. We are re-examining the study on GBP. A Chinese company is now conducting a study on the project, using its own funds. So, we are thinking of other optionswhether the Ganges Barrage should be constructed on the main river or any branch river, considering the impact of the Farakka Barrage, Anisul Islam Mahmud said. The construction of the Farakka Barrage began in the early 1960s and it was made operational in 1975. Bangladesh has disputes with India over sharing of waters of common rivers, including the Ganges, and the two countries signed a 30-year water-sharing treaty in 1996. According to the water resources ministry, the BWDB had taken up the Ganges Barrage Project in 2002 and conducted a pre-feasibility study for the barrage in the same year. The BNP-led Four-Party Alliance government had shelved the BWDBs proposal for conducting a detailed feasibility study. However, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) finally got the green signal in 2009 and completed the study by December 2012, on implementing the GBP. Some Asian countries, like China and Japan, and international organisations like the World Bank have expressed interest in financing the mega project. According to an estimate, about 19 lakh hectares of arable land in greater Kushtia, Faridpur, Jessore, Khulna, Barisal, Pabna and Rajshahi districts will be benefited. A 165-km-long reservoir from Pangsa of Rajbari to Chapainawabganj via Pabna, with 12.5-metre of depth, will help produce 25 lakh tonnes additional food grains and 2.4 lakh tonnes of fish. The soil salinity level in the areas surrounding the south-western rivers, including the Gorai, Hisna, Modhumati, Katakhali, Bishnu, Chandana, Chitra, Nabaganga, Chandana, Mathabhanga, Afra, Bhairab, Betna, Kobadak, Sibsa and the Baleswar will reduce significantly during the lean period and the barrage would help to protect the Sundarbans. The barrage will have 96 gates. Of them, 78 gates with spillways on the top and 18 under sluice gates. It would take seven years to construct the 2.1-km-long barrage, including the same length (2.1km) of railway bridge, with nine regulators and 10 bridges. A total of 1,100km long river would be needed to dredge for the barrage. The barrage would help meet the demand for water of 118 small- and medium-sized projects including GK project and Pabna irrigation project, he added. He further said the south-west and south-central rivers and estuary region, including 21 districts, will be under the project and the farmers of the areas will able to cultivate their land through irrigation, during dry season. The Ganga originates from the Himalayas, and flows southeast through the plains of north India towards Bangladesh. Before crossing the border, it bifurcates at Jangipur, of which the minor right-hand branch Bhagirathi passes through India to the sea. The left-hand major branch, to the southeast, crosses the border and flows about 250 km to meet the Jamuna at Goalondo.