The Farakka Barrage, built to restore India’s Kolkata port, has sparked decades of water-sharing tensions with Bangladesh, causing ecological harm downstream. As the 1996 Ganges Treaty nears expiration, renewed cooperation is essential for regional water security and climate resilience. **Highlights:** - India benefits from the Farakka Barrage through improved navigation and irrigation, while Bangladesh suffers reduced dry-season flows and ecological degradation. - The 1996 Ganges Water Treaty brought partial relief but failed to fully address water-sharing disputes, especially in drought years. - Experts urge treaty revision, real-time data sharing, and basin-wide cooperation to ease rising hydropolitical tensions. More than four decades after it became operational, the Farakka Barrage remains a symbol of unresolved water-sharing disputes between India and Bangladesh. Located on the Ganges River, just 18 kilometers upstream of the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, the barrage was designed to divert Ganges water to Kolkata via the Hooghly River, reviving the city’s silted-up port. But for Bangladesh, the story of Farakka has been one of deepening environmental stress, economic setbacks, and chronic diplomatic friction. As water becomes an increasingly scarce and politicized resource across South Asia, the Farakka Barrage continues to serve as a flashpoint in hydropolitical relations between the two countries. # The Origin of a Cross-Border Crisis The Farakka Barrage project was conceived during British colonial times but was implemented by independent India in the 1960s. Construction was completed in 1975, and by then, its geopolitical implications were clear. The primary objective was to flush out silt from the Hooghly River, ensuring navigability for Kolkata Port, which was rapidly losing depth due to sedimentation. The barrage diverts water from the Ganges into the Hooghly via a feeder canal. While this has proven effective for India’s inland navigation and regional economy, the implications for downstream Bangladesh have been severe. Bangladesh, which relies heavily on the Ganges for irrigation, drinking water, and aquatic ecosystems, saw a significant reduction in dry season flow—particularly between January and May. At times, Bangladesh has received less than a quarter of its historic average flow during this critical season. The Ganges Water Treaty signed in 1996 between India and Bangladesh was a major attempt to resolve the issue. The treaty—set to last 30 years—divides the dry season flow between the two countries according to a 10-day period-based sharing formula. While it marked a diplomatic milestone, it has not eliminated disputes over implementation, particularly during low-flow years when the river’s volume falls below expected levels. # Asymmetry of Benefits: India Gains, Bangladesh Loses India’s gains from the Farakka Barrage are both economic and environmental. The feeder canal diverts up to 40,000 cusecs of water into the Hooghly, aiding in silt management and improving the navigability of Kolkata Port. This, in turn, supports regional trade, industry, and inland shipping. The barrage also enables improved water management for agricultural regions in West Bengal and Bihar, enhancing food security and irrigation reliability. In contrast, Bangladesh experiences reduced river discharge during the dry months. This disrupts irrigation for winter crops in the southwestern districts like Rajshahi, Kushtia, and Khulna, accelerates saline intrusion from the Bay of Bengal, and contributes to the drying of wetlands and rivers such as the Padma and Gorai. It also reduces fish stocks and biodiversity, impacting both nutrition and livelihoods in rural communities. The Lower Ganges Delta, already vulnerable to climate change and sea level rise, faces compounded stress due to upstream diversions. Experts have repeatedly warned that inadequate flow during the dry season is transforming once-fertile plains into arid lands and accelerating desertification. # A Tense Diplomatic Legacy The Farakka issue has been a persistent feature of India-Bangladesh relations. In 1976, the water crisis prompted Bangladesh to raise the issue at the United Nations, citing violations of international water-sharing norms. Bilateral talks and memorandums over the years have led to some progress, but implementation issues remain unresolved. The Joint Rivers Commission (JRC), established in 1972, was tasked with regular consultations and cooperation on water issues. However, the JRC has not met since 2010, and diplomatic initiatives have stalled. Adding to the complexity is the fact that India shares 54 rivers with Bangladesh, making Farakka only one part of a larger mosaic of water-sharing challenges. The Teesta River, another key source of water for northern Bangladesh, remains locked in a separate unresolved negotiation, further straining trust. Domestic politics in both countries have also played a role. The West Bengal state government, which must approve any new water-sharing deal, has often opposed further concessions to Bangladesh. This internal dynamic within India complicates the already sensitive bilateral talks. # Pathways to Resolution: Regional Hydrodiplomacy Despite the legacy of discord, experts suggest there are realistic steps both countries can take to reduce tension and promote equitable water sharing: - Revive and Empower the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC): Regular, institutionalized meetings could foster trust and improve real-time cooperation. An empowered JRC could monitor flow data, review treaty compliance, and facilitate early warning for extreme events. - Establish Real-Time Data Sharing Mechanisms: One of the most persistent concerns from Bangladesh is the lack of transparency in water flow data. A joint telemetry system—backed by independent verification—could improve credibility and reduce suspicion. - Revisit the 1996 Ganges Water Treaty before Expiry: The treaty ends in 2026. A revised agreement could consider minimum guaranteed flows, basin-wide management principles, and adjustments for climate change and upstream usage. - Expand Dialogue to Multilateral Frameworks: Given the shared nature of South Asia’s river systems, countries could adopt models like the Mekong River Commission, which promotes cooperative river governance among multiple stakeholders. - Promote Sustainable River Basin Management: Rather than focusing solely on dry season flow divisions, India and Bangladesh could invest in joint basin-level projects, afforestation, sediment management, and eco-restoration of rivers. - Strengthen Climate Adaptation Planning: With glaciers retreating and monsoon patterns changing, long-term river flows are likely to become even more unpredictable. Adaptive governance, rather than rigid flow quotas, may become essential. # Cooperation over Conflict The Farakka Barrage is no longer just an engineering structure—it is a living symbol of a bilateral relationship strained by competing needs, growing populations, and fragile ecosystems. But it also offers a chance for cooperation. Shared rivers, after all, can connect as much as they divide. Bangladesh’s demand for equitable water sharing is rooted not in confrontation, but in survival. India’s regional leadership will be measured not only by economic power, but by its willingness to share vital natural resources with its closest neighbors. With only a year left on the Ganges Water Treaty, the time to act is now. Rethinking Farakka is not just about history—it is about shaping a more sustainable and just future for both countries.