It is a welcome development that Bangladesh and India would conduct a study on the Ganges barrage project. At a meeting of Joint River Commission, held after long eight years in Dhaka, the two countries arrived at this decision, and according to a report published in this newspaper yesterday, a technical committee comprising two members from Bangladesh and India each would carry out the study and submit terms of reference (ToR) by September 30.

It is still unclear what would come out of the study, but the importance of Ganges Barrage can hardly be overemphasised  for Bangladesh’s economy. Once constructed, this project will give the nation of limited resources multiple benefits. Most importantly, during the lean season, water from its huge reservoir---measuring about 165 kilometres from Pangsha in Rajbari to Pankha in Chapainawabganj district with its water holding capacity of 2,900 million metre cubes---can be used in the lean season for irrigation, triggering rebirth of rivers like Gorai, Madhumoti as well as Padma.  According to an estimate, about 19 lakh hectares of arable land in greater Kushtia, Faridpur, Jessore, Khulna, Barisal, Pabna and Rajshahi districts will get agricultural benefits. The water flow will also offset the salinity intrusion in the agricultural lands along the coastal region. Due to absence of water flow in the rivers, the salinity of land has already adversely impacted agricultural production there.

The project will also increase the fish production there, around 2.5 lakhs metric tonnes annually. Moreover, if a hydro power plant at the site is built according to the plan, it would add around 150 megawatts of electricity to the national grid. Due to India’s unilateral withdrawal of water through the construction of Farakka Barrage upstream, the ecological balance of the places involved is lost greatly.

Ganges Barrage would be constructed downstream in Bangladesh’s territory. A friend of Bangladesh like Japan earlier expressed its willingness to give fund for the construction of the project. Despite this, the work for the project could not be started. We hope this time, after the joint study, it would be possible to start the work and Bangladesh would be able to reap the benefits.