Indian River Linking Project:
India's River Diversion Plan: Its impact on Bangladesh
Indian plans to divert vast quantities of water from major rivers, including the Ganges and Brahmaputra, threaten the livelihoods of more than 100 million people downstream in Bangladesh, the Bangladeshi government fears. Ministers are so concerned that they are considering appealing to the United Nations to redraft international law on water sharing, said a report of the leading British daily The Guardian.
A recent report by correspondent John Vidal from Dhaka said : The ambitious Indian plans to link major rivers flowing from the Himalayas and divert them south to drought-prone areas are still on the drawing board, but Bangladeshi government scientists estimated that even a 10% to 20% reduction in the water flow to the country could dry out great areas for much of the year.
More than 80% of Bangladesh's 20 million small farmers grow rice and depend on water that has flowed through India.
"The idea of linking these rivers is very dangerous.It could affect the whole of Bangladesh and be disastrous," said Hafiz (uddin) Ahmad, the water resources minister. "The north of Bangladesh is already drying out after the Ganges was dammed by India in 1976. Now India is planning to do the same on [many of] the 53 other rivers that enter the country via India. Bangladesh depends completely on water."
The minister was quoted as saying that the government had protested to India but had so far not had any response. "Without this water we cannot survive," he said. "If [rice] production falls then we would not know how to survive. We want no kind of war, but international law on sharing water is unsure and we would request the UN to frame a new law. It would be a last resort."
The Indian government is preparing to seek international funds for its giant river-linking project, intended to divert water from the north of the country to drought-prone southern and eastern states. Up to one third of the flow of the Brahmaputra and other rivers could be diverted to southern Indian rivers to provide 173bn cubic metres of water a year, supplying millions of people in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka states with more reliable drinking and irrigation water, said The Guardian.
But the plan - which could cost between £44bn and £125bn and take at least 14 years to implement, making it potentially the largest and most expensive water project in the world - would redraw the subcontinent's hydrological map with immense ecological and social consequences.
It involves building hundreds of reservoirs and digging more than 600 miles of canals. Preliminary estimates by environment groups suggest that more than 3,000 square miles of land could be flooded and 3 million people forced off their land. India's national water development agency, which is backing the scheme, has said it will divert enough water to irrigate 135,000 square miles of farmland and produce 34,000 megawatts of hydroelectricity. However, much of the electricity would be needed to pump the water around.
"This could trigger a long-term disaster on the subcontinent and trigger bloodshed in the region," said Shashanka Saadi, of Action Aid Bangladesh.
Bangladesh already knows the consequences of India restricting its water. The Farakka barrage, built across the Ganges 11 miles from the Bangladeshi border in 1974, had at certain times of the year reduced by half the water that once flowed via the Ganges into Bangladesh, said Mr Ahmad.
"Great parts are turning into a desert, rivers have lost their navigability, salt water is intruding into farming areas. You can walk across the river Gori at some times of the year," said the minister.
Although the Indian and Bangladeshi governments have a water sharing agreement for the Ganges, there are none for the other 53 rivers that cross the border. Bangladeshi water engineers say that Indian barrages, canals, reservoirs and irrigation schemes are slowly strangling the country and are stopping its development. Bangladesh, which is too flat for major reservoirs, says if India goes ahead with its schemes, it may have to build a network of expensive canals to irrigate large areas now fed naturally by the Brahmaputra. "It would cost a huge amount of money, but we may need it to survive," said Mukhles uz Zaman, the director general of the Bangladesh water development board. "At the moment there is just about enough water for everyone, but the Indian plans could be disastrous. They would have catastrophic effects on Bangladesh's rice fields."
One of the most serious consequences of India's continuing search for irrigation water is expected to be the further drying out of the Sunderbans, the world's largest coastal forest, a world heritage site shared by India and Bangladesh and vital for fish. "The forest needs fresh water to survive. Because of the Farakka dam fresh water is not reaching there and the rivers are silting up rapidly. The trees are dying" said Mr Zaman.
Local people say the Farakka barrage has already changed millions of people's lives. "In eight to 10 years I believe that most of the Sunderbans will be silted up. The rivers flow far less than before the barrage was built, and it is getting worse every year," says Humayun Kabir, of Noapara, where a large river is now a small backwater and 6 metres (20ft) of silt has been deposited across thousands of hectares. "These new Indian plans would finish the whole area," reported The Guardian quoting Kabir.
© Copyright 2003 by The New Nation
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Withdrawal of water thru'' Farakka affects economy: Siraj
Speakers at a seminar in the city Saturday said that India''s unilateral withdrawal of water through the Farakka point was largely responsible for slow inflow in different rivers including Gorai in Bangladesh, reports BSS. They said the insufficient water in the common rivers was causing various problems, ultimately affecting the economy as well as the environment in Bangladesh.
Our agriculture and environment are facing various adversities due to slow water flows in our rivers, they observed. The seminar held at the LGED auditorium was organised by the Global Water Partnership-South Asia (GWP- SAS) in collaboration with the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) marking the World Environmental Day-2003. Minister for Environment and Forests Shajahan Siraj and Water Resources Minister Hafizuddin Ahmed were the chief guest and special guest respectively at the function. Chairman of GWP-SAS and President of IEB Engr Quamrul Islam Siddique presided over the function.
The main subject of the seminar was `Low flow in the Gorai river and its impact on the South-west region of Bangladesh''. Water experts Inun Nishat gave the keynote speech. Chairman of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) Giasuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Dutch Ambassador in Bangladesh Sjef Ijzermans, Mohammed Shohrab Uddin MP and Syed Mehedi Ahmed Rumi MP took part in the discussion. Shajahan Siraj said unilateral withdrawal of water by India through the Farraka point was adversely affecting various sectors of national economy including environment in Bangladesh. "Free flow of water in common rivers is internationally accepted norms.
We hope that the international forums will come forward to resolve this problem to ensure Bangladesh''s rightful share in the water of common rivers," he said. Hafizuddin Ahmed said Farakka barrage had created a blockade to slow down the flow of the international river Ganges, creating various problems in Bangladesh. "This problem should be resolved internationally," he said. The Water Resources minister said, we have to depend on the "goodwill" of our neighbour. "It can never be a permanent solution for us," he observed. ( BSS)
-Copyright © 1998 Global Amitech
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India to build water grid to divert river waters: Inviting disaster for Bangladesh
By Staff Reporter
May 10, 2003, 17:08
Indian government has planned to construct a 'national' water grid to shift water from the northern to the southern region.
Water Resources Minister Engr LK Siddiqui and top water experts of Bangladesh have requested the Indian government to sit in a discussion with Bangladesh side before constructing the proposed national water grid.
It was revealed at a seminar on "Water Resources Management and Water Problem of International Rivers and Regional Cooperation" held at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in the city yesterday. IEB organised the seminar.
Experts at the seminar said Bangladesh would be deprived of its due share of water if the Indian government is go ahead with the proposed national grid. "Bangladesh will have to face serious consequences if such a massive water grid is constructed, they cautioned.
Water Resources Minister Engr LK Siddiqi was present as the chief guest at the seminar.
President of IEB Engr Quamrul Islam Siddiqui spoke as special guest, while Dr M Golam Mohiuddin, Dhaka Central Chairman of IEB, presided over the seminar.
Prof MF Bari of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) presented a keynote paper.
Engr Mokhlesur Rahman, Director General of Bangladesh Water Board, water experts Dr Inun Nishat and Engr Towhidur Anwar Khan, a teacher of Department of Law of Dhaka University Dr Asif Nazrul Islam of Department of Geography of Dhaka University and Dr Sajjadur Rashid, among others, spoke at the seminar.
Engr LK Siddiqui said a think-tank on water issues of international standard by IEB should be constituted to help the government and to press upon the international community to resolve the water sharing problems among the South-Asian countries.
"The government is trying to resolve the water crisis in various ways, including by construction of barrages which have already given us success. But fund crisis is the main barrier for the country to construct more barrages," he said.
Engr Quamrul Islam Siddiqui said all water experts along with social scientists, experts on geography and other experts should come forward to build a forum to ensure the smooth flow of water in the international rivers.
"We should take steps on how to increase the conservation of water," he said.
Engr Siddiqui said, "The Padma and Brahmaputra are the main rivers of the country which provide with huge quantity of surface water. If India builds a water grid line to shift water from the northern region to southern region, it would be disastrous for Bangladesh and the country will be deprived of surface water drastically."
Dr Inun Nishat said, "India, China, Turkey and Brazil are conserving water without considering the demands of water of downstream countries. But, under the international laws, conservation of water from the upper-riparian is not legal without taking the demands of down stream counties into consideration."
© Copyright 2003 by The New Nation
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Problems in other country:
Tuesday, October 8, 2002. Posted: 13:15:24 (AEDT)
Water expert criticises river diversion plan
One of the world's leading water management experts has criticised calls from the organisers of the Farmhand drought relief campaign to divert some of the country's major rivers to water inland farms.
Professor Peter Cullen says any scheme to redirect waterways inland to irrigate marginal farming areas would have adverse affects on salinity levels and coastal industries such as prawn fisheries.
Professor Cullen says Australian primary producers have to put up with the seasonal variabilities of the weather, or get off the land.
"I think holding your hand out when you get a couple of dry years for public help is probably not a very helpful way," he said.
"I understand the hardship and the difficulties, and I'm delighted that some very wealthy Australians are putting their hands in their pockets to help those people, but really farming in Australia is about learning to live with the rainfall that we get, and the rainfall patterns that we get, and that means droughts and floods, so they're not unusual events, that's what farming in Australia is about."
© 2003 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Struggles against Farakka Dam
new: Crisis looms as India plans water diversion
April 2003
Date: Fri, 5 May 2000
From: Mamun Quazi
From now it left only 11 days to observe the "Quarter Centuay years" of protest against the fonction of the Farakka Barrage build on the Ganges in India at the border of the Bengal (Bangla Desh) for unilateral withdral of water and by divert the course of the river violeting all international laws on rivers and maritimes.
This barrage two different affect during the two seasons. During the dry season India withdaw the water in huge quantity and in moonsoon period she opens the gets the this Farakka Barrage that Bengal is getting over floaded.
Consequence of this barrage : 40 millions peuple manily peasants are directly affected; 70 millions people have been infected withe arsenic desease as people compelled to utilise the underground water for their drinking and agricultural purpose.
India is not only withdrawing the water from the Ganges but also from other 53 common international rivers shared by two countries. More than one third territory of Bangla Desh The Farakka Barrage is not only threatening the very existence of Bengal but also provoking the wolrd ecolology.
India has decleared the ecological war against t he Bengal. The Farakka Barrage is the "Atom Bomb" for Bangla 'Desh'. It is the biggest crime against the humanity of this nature that ever happened in the World History. In 1998 30 million people were affected by the fload caused by the Farakka Barrage.
World Bank, I.M.F and other international financial institutions have got the involement and are the direct benificiaries of this catastrophing situation. The adverse affect of the globalisation on ecology and environment, the Bengal is the worst victime.
Bengal's major economy is based on the agriculture. Wihout water for irrigation and over floaded situation made Bengal one of the poorest countries of the World.
Whole social, economic and political systems are directly co-related with this Farakka Barrage. The decree of proverty has provoked to be victime the women and child smuggling. Five million Women and girls have been already smuggled and kidnapped and sold to the prostitute markets of the India and Pakistan. Every year thousands of the childreans are bieng stollen and kidnapped and their organs are smuggled to the forien countries. On proportion of these childrens are also sold to the oil-rich middle-est countries for the une of the camel race. (...)
I will send you the rest of the text tomorrow. But I need your help !! for this vast project. Our year long campaign programme starts from 16 May 2000. Two major focus part of this are : (1) Year 2000 is the international campaigne year against the Farakka Barrage, (2) Since 1976 every year the 16 May is being observed as "National Farakka Resistance Day" therefore, to focus on the consiquence of the advers affect of the barrages all over the world including the Farakka Barrage we want to coordinate other national and international anti barrage movement (for example: Narmada Dam of india) we propose to ovserve the 16 May as the "International Barrage Ressitant Day" from nest year of 2001. For this and we are going to summit a formal request to the international institutions like UNESCO, FAO, ILO etc. trough different people's and humantarian organisations and to convince the member-states of these organisations.
With greetings.
QUAZI Abdullah Al Mamun
co-ordinator
Internation Committee for Campaign Against Farakka Barrage (ICCAF)
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Subject:
INDIA'S FARAKKA BARRAGE IS A DISASTER FOR BANGLADESH
Date: 9 Dec 1995 11:37:46 -0500
From:
surzzo@aol.com (Surzzo)
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
An Urgent Appeal to the World Conscience
INDIA'S FARAKKA BARRAGE IS A DISASTER FOR BANGLADESH
Save Humanity - Save Bangladesh!!
*** Please, print and read to save your (online) time.***
The name Bangladesh has become synonymous with Natural disasters which are beyond the control of human beings. But in recent years, a man-made disaster known as the Farraka Barrage has seriously affected Bangladesh's agriculture, navigation, fisheries, forestry, salinity and various components of the ecosystem.
In 1975 India completed the Farakka Barrage about 11 miles from the borders of Bangladesh to divert 40,000 cfs of the Ganges water into the Bhagirati-Hoogly River with the ostensible purpose of flushing the accumulated silts from the bed of the river and thereby improving the navigability at the Calcutta Port. The unilateral withdrawal of the Ganges water during the low flow months has caused both long-term and short-term effects in Bangladesh.
Long-Term Impacts on Bangladesh:
a) One fourth of the fertile agricultural land will become wasteland due to a shortage of water.
b) Thirty million lives are affected through environmental and economical ruin.
c) An estimated annual economic loss of over half a billion dollars in agricultural, fisheries, navigation and industries.
d) Frequent flooding due to environmental imbalance and changes in the natural flow of the Ganges.
The Immediate Effect on Bangladesh:
a) Reduction in agricultural products due to insufficient water for irrigation.
b) Reduction in aquatic population.
c) Transportation problems: boats rendered useless; tributaries are dry during dry season.
d) Increased salinity threatening crops, animal life drinking water, and industrial activities in southwest Bangladesh.
Steps Taken to Resolve the Problem:
a) Since 1951 negotiations between the former governement of Pakistan and India did not bear any results.
b) After Independence the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission met over 90 times without any results.
c) In April 1975, Bangladesh agreed to a trial operation of the Farakka Barrage for the period from April 21-May 31 to divert 11,000-16,000 cfs. India, however, continued to divert the full capacity of 40,000 cfs after May 31.
d) On November 26, 1976 the U.N. General Assembly adopted a consensus statement directing the parties to arribe at a fair and expeditious settelement.
e) On November 5, 1977 the Ganges Waters Agreement was signed, assuring 34,500 cfs for Bangladesh.
Current Status:
The five-year treaty expired in 1982 and after several shorter extensions, lapsed entirely in 1989. India is now diverting 40,000 cfs with complete disregard of Bangladesh's fair share.
What You Can do to Help Bangladesh:
More than 200 river basins are shared by two or nore countries. The sharing of river basins between countries is the rule rather than the exception. Bangladesh values its friendship with all nations and sincerely urges all nations and humanitarian agencies to utilize their resources to resolve this life-threatening situation.
The International Farakka Committee of New York is looking for ways to bring this crisis to the attention of the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies. If you have any suggestions, please contact any of the following people:
Chairman: Kazi Zakaria (718)699-0965
Senior Vice Chairman: Atiqur R.K. Eusufzai (201)779-2207
Secretary General: Syed Tipu Sultan (718) 217-6645 (H)/(718)529-3343(O)/
fax
718)322-1280
Arif Khan - (Internet)
surzzo@aol.com
Bangladesh fears disaster as India plans to divert rivers
July 25 2003
A proposal by India to re-route waterways, including the Ganges, has alarmed its neighbour downstream, writes John Vidal from Dhaka.
Indian plans to divert vast quantities of water from major rivers, including the Ganges and Brahmaputra, threaten the livelihoods of more than 100 million people downstream in Bangladesh, the Bangladeshi Government fears.
Ministers are so concerned that they are considering appealing to the United Nations to redraft international law on water sharing.
The ambitious Indian plans to link rivers flowing from the Himalayas and divert them south to drought-prone areas are still on the drawing board, but Bangladeshi Government scientists estimated that even a 10 to 20 per cent reduction in the water flow to the country could dry out great areas for much of the year. More than 80 per cent of Bangladesh's 20 million small farmers grow rice and depend on water that has flowed through India.
"The idea of linking these rivers is very dangerous. It could affect the whole of Bangladesh and be disastrous," said Water Resources Minister Hafiz Ahmad. "The north of Bangladesh is already drying out after the Ganges was dammed by India in 1976," Mr Ahmad said. "Now India is planning to do the same on (many of) the 53 other rivers that enter the country via India. Bangladesh depends completely on water."
The minister said the Government had protested to India but had so far not had any response. "Without this water, we cannot survive," he said. "If (rice) production falls, then we would not know how to survive. We want no kind of war, but international law on sharing water is unsure and we would request the UN to frame a new law. It would be a last resort."
The Indian Government is preparing to seek international funds for its giant river-linking project, intended to divert water from the north of the country to drought-prone southern and eastern states. Up to a third of the flow of the Brahmaputra and other rivers could be diverted to southern Indian rivers to provide 173 billion cubic metres of water a year, supplying millions of people in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka states with more reliable drinking and irrigation water.
But the plan - which could cost between $70 billion and $200 billion and take at least 14 years to implement, making it potentially the largest and most expensive water project in the world - would redraw the subcontinent's hydrological map with immense ecological and social consequences.
It involves building hundreds of reservoirs and digging more than 1000 kilometres of canals.
Preliminary estimates by environment groups suggest that more than 7800 square kilometres of land could be flooded and three million people forced off their land.
India's national water development agency, which is backing the scheme, has said it will divert enough water to irrigate 350,000 square kilometres of farmland and produce 34,000 megawatts of hydroelectricity - much of which would be needed to pump the water around.
"This could trigger a long-term disaster on the subcontinent and trigger bloodshed in the region," said Shashanka Saadi, of Action Aid Bangladesh.
Bangladesh already knows the consequences of India restricting its water. The Farakka barrage, built across the Ganges 18 kilometres from the Bangladeshi border in 1974, had at times of the year reduced by half the water that once flowed into Bangladesh, turning large parts into desert, Mr Ahmad said.
- Guardian
