The central government, led by the NDA coalition, has assured its partner, the Janata Dal United (JDU), that it will make a “suitable decision” regarding the Farakka treaty, taking into account the water supply needs for both drinking and industrial purposes in Bihar.
This commitment was communicated by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in a letter addressed to JDU’s national working president and Rajya Sabha member, Sanjay Kumar Jha, last week.
In his correspondence, Jaishankar referred to a Special Mention made in the Rajya Sabha on August 6, 2026, during which Jha advocated for the safeguarding of Bihar’s water interests as the renewal of the Ganga water sharing agreement with Bangladesh approaches.
The treaty, initially established on December 12, 1996, to regulate the river’s dry-season flow at the Farakka barrage, is set to expire this year and requires renewal.
In the letter dated August 28, Jaishankar acknowledged the concerns regarding the Ganga Water Treaty. He informed Jha that discussions involving multiple ministries, led by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, have taken place, engaging various stakeholders to thoroughly evaluate the treaty’s implementation and future.
A representative from the Bihar government participated in several consultations held on August 22, 2023, October 30, 2023, March 15, 2024, and May 31, 2024. These meetings considered the perspectives and requirements of stakeholders, particularly concerning Bihar’s needs for drinking water and industrial supply, as highlighted in the letter.
Jaishankar assured that the government would take all these factors into account when making its decision.
In response, Jha expressed satisfaction on behalf of the citizens of Bihar. “I appreciate Dr. Jaishankar’s thoughtful reply. We sincerely hope that any decision made by the Government of India regarding the Ganga Water Treaty will fully and fairly consider Bihar’s interests. We are not seeking special treatment; we are only requesting what scientific assessments indicate is necessary to ensure that 130 million residents have adequate access to drinking water, irrigation, and industrial supply for the next 30 years,” Jha stated.
He emphasized that the JDU would persist in advocating for a fair and scientifically determined allocation of water resources from the Ganga and its tributaries. Jha had previously addressed the issue of equitable water sharing during his tenure as the Water Resources Minister in the prior administration.
