Ganga Water Treaty, 1996

The 1996 Ganga Water Treaty is a bilateral agreement between India and Bangladesh for sharing the Ganga's dry-season flow at Farakka. Signed on 12 December 1996, it establishes a formula for ten-day allocations, joint monitoring and dispute resolution rather than a comprehensive basin-wide management regime.

Dry-season allocation at Farakka

Under Article II, flows available at Farakka are shared from 1 January to 31 May in successive ten-day periods according to the treaty's annexed formula.

• When availability is 70,000 cusecs or less, India and Bangladesh receive equal shares.
• When availability is between 70,000 and 75,000 cusecs, Bangladesh receives 35,000 cusecs and India receives the balance.
• When availability exceeds 75,000 cusecs, India receives 40,000 cusecs and Bangladesh receives the balance.
• Each country is guaranteed 35,000 cusecs in alternate three ten-day periods between 1 March and 10 May.
• If availability falls below 70,000 cusecs in any ten-day period, the governments must consult immediately to make adjustments based on equity, fair play and the principle of causing no harm.

Monitoring and dispute settlement

A Joint Committee, comprising an equal number of representatives nominated by both governments, oversees implementation and examines flow data at Farakka and relevant downstream locations.

• The Joint Committee submits annual reports to the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission.
• Unresolved differences move from the Joint Committee to the Joint Rivers Commission and, if necessary, to the two governments.

Duration and long-term cooperation

The treaty remains in force for 30 years and may be renewed by mutual consent. It provides for review every five years, or earlier if requested by either party.

• Both countries agreed to cooperate in finding a long-term solution for augmenting the Ganga's dry-season flows.
• Such cooperation is to be guided by equity, fairness and the principle of causing no harm to either party.

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