The West Bengal government has urged the Centre to safeguard the state’s interests relating to water availability, navigation, ports and industry as India and Bangladesh prepare to renew the 30-year-old Ganga-Padma water-sharing agreement, which is set to expire in December 2026.
State government representatives raised the issue at a recent meeting of an internal committee of the Union Jal Shakti Ministry and submitted a report outlining West Bengal’s requirements for Ganga water for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes.
According to a senior state government official, ensuring adequate water availability for West Bengal, particularly during the dry season, is the state’s primary concern. The government has stressed the need to maintain sufficient downstream flow through the Farakka Barrage into the Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system.
“ Our primary concern is to ensure that the state’s legitimate requirements are adequately protected in any renewed agreement. Adequate downstream flow during the dry season is particularly important for the Bhagirathi-Hooghly system,” the official said.
The state has highlighted the impact of declining water flow and increased silt accumulation on navigation and port operations. Reduced discharge in the Hooghly has contributed to navigability challenges, while siltation has also affected vessel movement at the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata.
The government has further pointed to recurring river erosion in large parts of Malda, Murshidabad and Nadia districts, both upstream and downstream of the Farakka Barrage. Excessive silt accumulation is also linked to recurring flooding, adding to the concerns surrounding the river system.
“Lower water flow and the accumulation of silt have implications not only for the river system but also for navigation and the port. These aspects need to be factored in during discussions on the future water-sharing arrangement,” the official said.
West Bengal has also raised concerns over declining groundwater levels and the growing risk of arsenic contamination. With Ganga water increasingly important for the state’s drinking-water needs, irrigation and industrial activities, the government has called for these emerging requirements to be considered in any renewed agreement.
Ganga water is currently used for irrigation and, after treatment, for drinking purposes, while a portion is also supplied to industries.
The state government has therefore urged the Centre to give due consideration to environmental risks, river erosion, siltation, navigation requirements and adequate downstream flow while negotiating the future water-sharing arrangement with Bangladesh.
The Ganga water-sharing agreement between India and Bangladesh was signed in 1996 for a 30-year period and is scheduled to expire in December this year.