Bangladesh has protested that New Delhi has deprived Dhaka of its share of the Ganges water as stipulated in the Gangers Water Sharing Treaty 1996 and has not heeded the complaints Dhaka earlier registered with Indian authorities.

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In four schedules, from January 1 to February 10, India provided Bangladesh with water 38,072 cusecs less than what is specified in the indicative schedule 2, according to the statistics with the Joint Rivers Commission.

Syed Sajjad Hossain, a commission member, told New Age that Dhaka wrote to Delhi immediately after getting less flow through the Ganges in the first two schedules, between January 1 and January 20. It sent a letter to New Delhi after January 29 and then another letter on February 13.

In the letter, Bangladesh protested against India's action of allowing less water to flow through the Farakka Barrage and urged New Delhi to go by the deal.

'We are, unfortunately, yet to get any positive response from India and we continue to receive less flow of water at the Farakka Barrage point,' said a high official of the ministry.
 

A commission release said Dhaka received 45,113 cusecs in the first 10 days of February against the share of 46,323 cusecs in keeping with the indicative schedule 2 of the treaty signed between the two next-door neighbours.

In January, Bangladesh received 36,962 cusecs less water through the Ganges. In three schedules of January, Dhaka received 1,39,481 cusecs against its share of 1,75,343 cusecs.

According to the treaty, Dhaka and New Delhi will get equal share between January 1 and May 31 if the amount is 70,000 cusecs or less at the Farakka Barrage point.

If the amount ranges between 70,000 cusecs and 75,000 cusecs, Dhaka will get 35,000 cusecs, with the rest going to India.

If the amount is more than 75,000 cusecs, Delhi will receive 40,000 cusecs, with the rest going to Bangladesh.

When contacted, Sanjib Singla, first secretary (political) to the Indian High Commission, said Bangladesh had so far received more water during the period than it did in 2007.

He said it was 'absolutely wrong' that Bangladesh deserved more water in keeping with the treaty. 'Both the countries are receiving water as per the treaty.'

'The schedule is based on historical average which also depends on extraneous factors beyond control such as change in global weather pattern,' he said. 'In view of global weather pattern, both Bangladesh and India need to emphasise better water management.'