Following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government has now moved to renegotiate the Ganga River Water Treaty with Bangladesh, which is due to expire next year.
India has formally informed Bangladesh that it requires a larger share of the Ganga’s waters to support its growing developmental needs. The new treaty is expected to have a shorter duration—likely between 10 and 15 years—allowing for greater flexibility and periodic reassessment by both nations.
🚨 BREAKING: After suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, India now moves to renegotiate the Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh ahead of its 2026 expiry. 🇮🇳💧🇧🇩
Citing rising developmental needs, India pushes for a shorter, flexible pact — 10-15 years. A new water diplomacy era… pic.twitter.com/Zi8pz3Zyq7
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) June 23, 2025
The original Ganga Water Treaty, signed on December 12, 1996, governs the sharing of river water, particularly during the lean season around the Farakka Barrage.
“Prior to the Pahalgam incident, we were leaning toward renewing the treaty for another 30 years. But the situation changed significantly after that,” said a senior official from the Ministry of External Affairs who took part in a bilateral meeting with Bangladeshi representatives in May.
“It was a routine biannual meeting, but it also served as a platform to raise our concerns about the growing domestic demand for water, which will shape the terms of the upcoming treaty,” the officer noted.
Internal documents reviewed by this newspaper reveal that the Farakka Barrage was originally designed to divert a steady flow of 40,000 cusecs of water into a feeder canal serving the Kolkata Port Trust—now the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata.
“The 1996 treaty disrupted this flow, resulting in a range of problems including slope failure, bed erosion, and significant siltation at the port, all of which have reduced its navigational capacity. Moreover, the NTPC plant in the region is now experiencing a water shortage,” the officer added.
Under the current arrangement, both countries receive 35,000 cusecs of water on an alternating 10-day basis during the lean season, which spans from March 11 to May 11. India is now seeking an additional 30,000 to 35,000 cusecs during this critical period to meet its growing developmental needs.
The Centre has secured the backing of the West Bengal government—the primary beneficiary of the additional water India is seeking. During internal consultations, Bihar also underscored the need for increased Ganga water to address its drinking water and irrigation demands. A recent internal meeting, attended by a senior official from West Bengal, confirmed this shared requirement.
Complicating matters further is the growing sense of mistrust following last year’s coup in Bangladesh, which has made India’s diplomatic efforts more delicate. In early May, shortly after the Pahalgam terror attack, an Indian delegation visited Dhaka and conveyed the need to revisit the terms of the treaty in light of India’s rising water demands.
Historically, the West Bengal government has voiced concerns that the 1996 treaty fell short of addressing India’s own needs. “In any treaty entered into in good faith, it is the responsibility of the lower riparian state to acknowledge and respect the concerns of the upper riparian. How long can we continue extending generosity to support our neighbour when our contributions go unappreciated?” a senior official remarked.
