Dhaka, Delhi agree on joint study for Ganges barrage

Joint River Commission meets after 8 years

Bangladesh and India are likely to conduct a joint study for the proposed Ganges Barrage Project (GBP) to be constructed in Bangladesh territory, the water resource secretary-level meet between Bangladesh and India was told yesterday. A technical committee comprising two members from each side will carry out the study and submit the terms of reference (ToR) by September 30, Kabir Bin Anwar, secretary to the Water Resources Ministry of Bangladesh, told journalists after the meeting at state guest house Jamuna in the capital.

An Indian delegation led by Upendra Prasad Singh, secretary to the ministry of Jal Shakti of India, was present on the occasion.

About the Ganges barrage, Singh said, “We have no problem in constructing a barrage at a suitable place in the Bangladesh territory. Bangladesh will get the maximum benefits out of it. We will also get some benefits from here.”

“Four people – two from Bangladesh and two from India – will work on the barrage. They will take other persons in their committee and finally prepare the terms of reference,” he added.

“The ToR will be completed by September 30. Right now nothing can be said about it,” he added.

Singh said both sides would also carry out a joint study on eight other rivers including Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Feni, Gumi, Dharla, Dudhkumar and Teesta to better manage their water resources.

Both sides held fruitful discussions on various trans-boundary water related issues including formation of a joint technical committee for conducting a feasibility study on optimum utilisation of the Ganges waters being received by Bangladesh as per the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty.

They also discussed the preparation of a framework on interim water sharing agreements of Manu, Muhuri, Khowai,

Feni, Gumi, Dharla, Dudhkumar and Teesta and enhancement of cooperation in flood forecasting.

“We had a free and frank discussion. Water is a topmost agenda of India today. Bangladesh’s problems are not so acute as that of India’s. The per capita availability of water in India, which used to be more than 5000 cubic/litre per person per year, has declined to 1400 cubic/litre per person per year.”

Asked about river linking project for trans-boundary rivers, he said, “Forget about inter-linking trans-boundary rivers without consultation with concerned country. We cannot even do it without consultation with other states of India.”

They, however, discussed problems of pollution in trans-boundary rivers, water management, water conservation and other issues of mutual interest, Anwar said.

“We had six agenda on the table. We have received positive results. We have 54 trans-boundary rivers. Among the rivers, we are getting fair sharing of water out of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty.”

He said the meeting was held in an atmosphere of warmth, understanding and cordiality.

The meeting, held after a hiatus of more than eight years, can be seen as an important one in progressing bilateral cooperation in the water resources sector between the two countries.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides signed the ‘Joint Record of Discussions’.

Bangladesh and India share a total 54 trans-boundary rivers. The JRC was formed to resolve conflicts about sharing of waters of those trans-boundary rivers. So far two countries have only one treaty of sharing the water of the Ganges river signed in 1996.

Dhaka, Delhi agree on joint study for Ganges barrage

Joint River Commission meets after 8 years

Bangladesh and India are likely to conduct a joint study for the proposed Ganges Barrage Project (GBP) to be constructed in Bangladesh territory, the water resource secretary-level meet between Bangladesh and India was told yesterday. A technical committee comprising two members from each side will carry out the study and submit the terms of reference (ToR) by September 30, Kabir Bin Anwar, secretary to the Water Resources Ministry of Bangladesh, told journalists after the meeting at state guest house Jamuna in the capital. An Indian delegation led by Upendra Prasad Singh, secretary to the ministry of Jal Shakti of India, was present on the occasion. About the Ganges barrage, Singh said, We have no problem in constructing a barrage at a suitable place in the Bangladesh territory. Bangladesh will get the maximum benefits out of it. We will also get some benefits from here. Four people two from Bangladesh and two from India will work on the barrage. They will take other persons in their committee and finally prepare the terms of reference, he added. The ToR will be completed by September 30. Right now nothing can be said about it, he added. Singh said both sides would also carry out a joint study on eight other rivers including Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Feni, Gumi, Dharla, Dudhkumar and Teesta to better manage their water resources. Both sides held fruitful discussions on various trans-boundary water related issues including formation of a joint technical committee for conducting a feasibility study on optimum utilisation of the Ganges waters being received by Bangladesh as per the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty. They also discussed the preparation of a framework on interim water sharing agreements of Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Feni, Gumi, Dharla, Dudhkumar and Teesta and enhancement of cooperation in flood forecasting. We had a free and frank discussion. Water is a topmost agenda of India today. Bangladeshs problems are not so acute as that of Indias. The per capita availability of water in India, which used to be more than 5000 cubic/litre per person per year, has declined to 1400 cubic/litre per person per year. Asked about river linking project for trans-boundary rivers, he said, Forget about inter-linking trans-boundary rivers without consultation with concerned country. We cannot even do it without consultation with other states of India. They, however, discussed problems of pollution in trans-boundary rivers, water management, water conservation and other issues of mutual interest, Anwar said. We had six agenda on the table. We have received positive results. We have 54 trans-boundary rivers. Among the rivers, we are getting fair sharing of water out of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty. He said the meeting was held in an atmosphere of warmth, understanding and cordiality. The meeting, held after a hiatus of more than eight years, can be seen as an important one in progressing bilateral cooperation in the water resources sector between the two countries. At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides signed the Joint Record of Discussions. Bangladesh and India share a total 54 trans-boundary rivers. The JRC was formed to resolve conflicts about sharing of waters of those trans-boundary rivers. So far two countries have only one treaty of sharing the water of the Ganges river signed in 1996.