India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty not in Bihar’s interests, says JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha
The two countries are yet to hold the last round of talks on the renewal of the treaty that will expire on December 31, 2026
360° Perspective Analysis
Deep-dive into Geography, Polity, Economy, History, Environment & Social dimensions — AI-powered, on-demand
Context
The Janata Dal (United) has voiced opposition to renewing the 1996 India-Bangladesh , citing negative impacts on Bihar's interests over the past 30 years. The treaty, which governs the sharing of the Ganga's waters, is set to expire on December 31, 2026. This domestic political pressure coincides with heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh following a recent change in the Bangladeshi government.
UPSC Perspectives
Polity
This issue highlights a critical challenge in Indian federalism: balancing national foreign policy objectives with the specific interests of individual states. Under Article 246 and the Union List (Entry 14) of the , the Central Government holds exclusive power over foreign affairs and treaties. However, when international agreements impact subjects primarily under state jurisdiction, like water (a State subject under Entry 17, though subject to Union regulation for inter-state rivers under Entry 56), friction often arises. The JD(U)'s stance, particularly as a key ally in the ruling (NDA) coalition, demonstrates how coalition politics can exert pressure on the Centre's diplomatic maneuvering. In UPSC Mains, you can use this as a case study for evaluating the concept of cooperative federalism and whether a more institutionalized mechanism is needed for states to participate in negotiating treaties that directly affect their resources and populations, similar to the demands often raised by West Bengal regarding the Teesta river.
International Relations
The of 1996 is a cornerstone of India-Bangladesh bilateral relations, establishing a formula for sharing the waters of the Ganga during the dry season (January to May) at the . The potential non-renewal or renegotiation of this treaty risks escalating diplomatic tensions, especially given the complex political climate in Bangladesh following the recent change in leadership. Water diplomacy, or hydro-diplomacy, is a significant component of India's relations with its neighbors (e.g., the with Pakistan). Managing shared transboundary water resources requires balancing national interests (like Bihar's concerns about water availability and siltation) with maintaining goodwill and stability in the neighborhood, which is a key tenet of India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. A failure to secure a mutually agreeable water-sharing arrangement could empower anti-India sentiments in Bangladesh and provide strategic space for other regional actors, notably China, which has shown interest in infrastructure projects on Bangladeshi rivers.
Geographical
The controversy surrounding the centers on the geographical and hydrological realities of the Ganga basin. The , located in West Bengal just before the river enters Bangladesh, was built primarily to flush out silt and maintain the navigability of the Hooghly river (vital for the Kolkata port). However, upstream states like Bihar argue that the barrage causes the river to slow down, leading to massive siltation in the riverbed upstream. This reduced carrying capacity of the river channel exacerbates the severity of floods in Bihar during the monsoon. The debate underscores the complexities of managing a dynamic, transboundary river system where interventions like barrages (a structure to divert water) have cascading effects both upstream (flooding and siltation) and downstream (water scarcity during lean periods). From a geography perspective, this illustrates the conflict between different water uses (navigation vs. flood control vs. irrigation) and the necessity of holistic river basin management that considers the ecological health of the entire river system.