JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha Urges Centre Not to Renew Farakka Water Treaty with Bangladesh
Raises Bihar's Long-Term Water Security in RS, Calls for Scientific Assessment of Ganga Basin Needs Till 2050
The Impressive TimesManoj Kumar
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New Delhi/Patna: Janata Dal (United) Working National President and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha on Thursday urged the Centre not to renew the 1996 Farakka Water Treaty with Bangladesh, which is set to expire on December 12, 2026. Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha, he called for a new water-sharing framework based on a scientific assessment of the water requirements of Bihar and other Ganga basin states up to 2050.
He said the existing treaty has adversely affected Bihar’s long-term water security and reiterated that JD(U) and its national president, former Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, have consistently opposed the agreement. He added that he had also raised the issue during his tenure as Bihar’s Water Resources Minister.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Sanjay Jha said the Farakka Barrage was originally constructed to maintain water flow in the Hooghly River and support the Kolkata Port, but the subsequent water-sharing agreement has resulted in severe water shortages in Bihar during the lean season over the past three decades.
Highlighting the growing crisis, he said adequate Ganga water is essential for agriculture, drinking water, industrial development and environmental sustainability in Bihar. He warned that groundwater levels are declining rapidly, particularly in south Bihar, leading to increasing irrigation and drinking water challenges.
Citing Bihar government estimates, he said the state would require an additional 2,000 cusecs of water by 2050, which is not adequately addressed under the current treaty. He urged the Centre to undertake a fresh scientific assessment of the water needs of all Ganga basin states and formulate a new arrangement accordingly.
He cautioned that renewing the treaty without ensuring adequate water availability for Bihar’s agriculture, drinking water and development needs could adversely affect the state’s long-term growth and the livelihoods of millions of people.
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