It's about the Farakka Barrage and the present condition of Bangladesh

1. Presentation on FARAKKA BARRAGE
Complied By:
TASNIM TABASSSUM(2015-1-70-065)
ABIR SUR (2015-1-70-071)

2. Background on the
Ganges River and
Surrounding Area
The Ganges/ Brahmaputra system has the third
largest discharge and largest sediment load in
the world, 1,086,000 ft³/s and 1.84 billion tons a
year respectively.

3. Map of the Ganges’ Basin

5. Background on the
Ganges River and
Surrounding Area
• The Ganges runs 2,500 miles with a basin of
9,243 miles² shared between India,
Bangladesh, Nepal and China.
• In 2003 the basin was home to 405 million
people, 346 in India, 19 in Nepal, 40 in
Bangladesh.

7. Map of the Ganges River and
Tributaries

9. Brahmaputra and Ganges
Rivers: Discharge
Hydrographs, 1981

10. Brahmaputra and Ganges
Rivers
• The source of the Ganges’ lies in the
Himalayas
• It is fed mainly by glacial melt from April to
June
• Flow is severely seasonal
• Heaviest flows occur during monsoon months,
June to October, which bring 85% of all
rainfall to the area.

11. Brahmaputra and Ganges
Rivers
• Droughts are common in the dry season when
the Ganges’ flow into Bangladesh is only
55,000 ft³/s
• Water is desperately needed in the dry season
for crop irrigation
• Bangladesh experiences widespread flooding
during the monsoon season

12. The Farakka
Barrage
• In 1951 India announced intentions build a
Barrage across the Gangues 10km from the
Bangladesh border.
• The Barrage diverts water into the Baghirathi-
Hooghly River to flush out silt and increase
navigation accessibility to Calcutta.

13. The Farakka
Barrage
• The Barrage was commissioned in April 1975.
• This Barrage gave India control over Ganges
flows into Bangladesh during the dry season.
• In the spring of 1975 India withdrew 40,000 of
the 55,000 ft³/s of water from the Ganges.
• There were disastrous consequences on
Bangladesh.

14. The Farakka
Barrage

15. Purpose
The purpose of the barrage is to divert 1,100 cubic
meters per second (40,000 cu ft/s) of water from
the Ganges to the Hooghly River for flushing out
the sediment deposition from the Kolkata harbour
without the need of regular mechanical dredging.
After commissioning the project, it was found that
the diverted water flow from the Farakka barrage
was not adequate to flush the sediment from the
river satisfactorily. In addition, there are regular
land/bank collapses in to the Ganga river due to
the high level back waters of the Farakka barrage.

16. Farakka Barrage Project – Main
Objectives
 To divert adequate quantity of Ganga waters to Bhagirathi -
Hoogly river system though 38 km long feeder canal for
preservation and maintenance of Kolkata Port by improving the
regime and navigability of the Bhagirathi - Hoogly river system.
 The increased upland supply from Ganga at Farakka into
Bhagirathi reduces salinity and ensures sweet water supply to
Kolkata and surrounding areas.
 The rail-cum-road bridge built over Farakka Barrage across the
river Ganga at Farakka establishes direct road and rail
communication link to the North-Eastern States with rest of the
country.
 The Bhagirathi, the Feeder Canal and the Navigation Lock at
Farakka form part of the Haldia-Allahabad Inland Waterway
(National Waterway No:1).

17. Activities of Farakka Barrage
Project
• Operation & Maintenance:
A 2245 metre long Barrage across river Ganga,
with 109 bays and a Head Regulator with 11 bays
 A 213 metre long Barrage across river Bhagirathi
at Jangipur with 15 bays
 38.38 km long Feeder Canal with carrying
capacity of 1133 cumec (40,000 cusec)
 Navigation locks at Farakka and Jangipur
 Kalindri Regulator, Lock and other
infrastructures

18. Activities of Farakka Barrage
Project
Left Afflux Bund of Farakka Barrage - 33.79 km
in length, Right Afflux Bund of Farakka Barrage -
7 km in length and afflux bund of Jangipur
Barrage – 16.31 km in length
Two rail-cum-road bridges and two road bridges
across the Feeder Canal
A number of Regulators at different locations
situated in Murshidabad and Malda Districts of
West Bengal
 Bagmari Syphon at RD 48.00 of Feeder Canal

19. Ongoing Activities of Farakka
Barrage Project
 FBP has taken action for replacement of distressed gates in
phased manner considering working limitations viz. access to
installation site through piers only, double line busy railway
corridor, stretch of NH-34 over barrage and working in a
limited space in flowing water conditions.
 Works of replacement of 6 old gates were taken up during
2012-13 and the work has been completed.
 Strengthening of 7 old gates was taken up during 2013-14 and
the work has been completed except painting of gates.
 During 2013-14, replacements of 33 old gates were also taken
up. Out of these 33 gates, 15 gates have been replaced by new
gates during 2014-15 and another 5 gates have been fabricated
and are ready for erection at site.

20. Ongoing Activities of Farakka
Barrage Project
Servicing and maintenance of other hydro
mechanical components, hoists, central drive unit
etc. has also been taken up during 2014-15 and is
in advance stage of completion.
2 sets of stop-log gates have also been procured
during 2014-15 to meet out any exigency.
Action for administrative approval of competent
authority for replacement of remaining gates in a
phased manner is also being taken up.

21. Negotiations Between India and
Bangladesh
• India and Bangladesh were unable to reach a
water agreement 1975.
• In 1976 Bangladesh failed to involve the United
Nations.
• In 1977 a five year water sharing treaty was
reached.
• This treaty gave Bangladesh 80% of Ganges flow
during the dry season.
• This was followed by two memorandums of
understanding lasting through 1988, these did not
include a minimum flow into Bangladesh.

22. Negotiations Between India and
Bangladesh
• No further agreements were reached from 1988-
1996.
• India withdrew 40-45,000 ft³/s from the Gangues
every dry season of this period.
• In 1996 the two countries reached a 30 year treaty.
• This treaty dictates that Bangladesh receive a
minimum flow of 35,000 ft³/s from January to May.
• The relationship created by the 1996 treaty resulted
in further agreements between India and Bangladesh.

23. Areas dependent upon Ganges
Flow according to (a) the
Government of India and (b) the
Government of Bangladesh.

24. Consequences of the Barrage
On India
• Little silt was flushed from the Baghirathi-
Hooghly River.
• Calcutta has declined as a port city.

25. Consequences
On Bangladesh
• Increased salinity of soil and water
• Decline of soil quality and crop yields
• Shrinking fish population
• Decline of fishing villages and loss of a
livelihoods
• Decline of mangrove forest

26. Consequences
On Bangladesh
• Increased erosion rates and sedimentation.
• Increased salt water intrusion.
• More sever flooding during the monsoon
season.
• Direct damages are estimated to be three
billion US dollars.

27. Flooding in
Bangladesh

28. Political history of Farakka Barrage
and its effects on environment in Bangladesh
Ecological issues in Indo-Bengal politics in the
pre-Bangladesh period
• Hydrological regime for modernizing program of the nation
#Our position as regards food production has been dangerously
affected due to the major paddy-growing areas being made over
to Eastern Bengal. In short, as a result of partition there is now
the sad legacy of less food but more to be fed.

29. Didi’s Perpetual Oblivion

30. Didi’s Perpetual Oblivion
• Centre orders probe into Farakka sluice gates
collapse
• Didi again writes to PM, seeking Farakka
Barrage gates’ replacement
• Farakka Barrage row: Mamata writes to
Manmohan
• Farakka officials junk Didi theory

31. Farakka Barrage: the tale of two
countries and one river
• Our rivers should nurture our relationship, not
become a source of discord. Water sharing is,
above all, a human issue. It affects life and
livelihood on both sides of the border.

32. Farakka Barrage lock-gate collapses
• Farakka/Kolkata: A damaged lock-gate of the Farakka
Barrage across the Ganges river near the Indo-Bangla border
has been washed away following which authorities have
diverted excess water to a feeder canal and towards
Bangladesh. "Gate number 49 has been washed away. It was
already damaged and officials were about to replace it when
it collapsed last evening," Murshidabad District Magistrate
Y RatnakarRao told PTI. He said the a new gate has already
arrived and would be put up soon.The DM claimed that there
would be no change in the water level of the river due to the
collapse.
• "I have been informed by the project manager that there is
no change in the water level. They are diverting half of the
excess water to the feeder canal and the rest to Bangladesh
side," Rao said

33. Indian River Linking Project
• India’s river diversion plan: Its impact on
Bangladesh
• Withdrawal of water thru’’ Farakka affects
economy: Siraj
• India to build water grid to divert rivers
waters: Inviting disaster for Bangladesh

34. Impact of Farakka Barrage and Water Diversion
Through Feeder Canal
• Impact on stream energy.
• Impact on River Channel or Interception of the flow
channel/ changed from straight to sinuosity.
• Impact on River Discharge
• Impact on Sedimentation (640 x106 metric tonnes/
year). Banerjee(1999)
• Widening of the river and increasing length
• Impact on bank erosion and displacement
• Impact on ground water table
• Tendency to bypass the Farakka barrage along
Kalindri-Mahananda

35. Shifting of Channel Natural Oscillation
1920 1977 1990
2005 2010

38. Post-Farakka situation: Effects at a
glance
Upstream
• Interception of the flow channel/ changed from straight to
oblique
• Sedimentation (640 x106 metric tonnes/ year)
• Reduction of the cross-sectional area
• Declining slope of the long profile
• Widening of the river and increasing length
• Increase in flood frequency and magnitude
• Severe bank erosion and displacement
• Rising ground water table
• Tendency to bypass the Farakka barrage along Kalindri -
Mahananda

39. Post-Farakka situation: Effects at a
glance
Downstream
• land reallocation from right to left
• Population displacement
• Indo-Bangladesh border dispute
• Falling ground water table
• Communication delinkage
• Threat to Farakka barrage at Fazilpur point

41. Effects on Bio-diversity
• Impacts on biodiversity of flora and fauna were the main
focus of this study, nevertheless other factors like salinity,
sand hazard, under-ground water table, soil fertility, were
also discussed as these factors are related to biodiversity.
• Changes in floral biodiversity, floral composition,
crop productivity, intensity in crop cultivation, plant
disease, changes on fauna diversity

42. Impacts Bahadurpur Chargolapna
gar
Charuppur Satragacha Hatasharipu
r
Change in
plant
biodiversity
35 73 10 28 42
Plant
disease
4 10 2 13 11
Change in
animal
biodiversity
35 73 10 28 42
Sand
hazard
35 73 10 0 41
Reduction
in
undergroun
d water
table
35 73 10 28 42
Salinity 0 0 0 0 0
Total no. of
respondents
35 73 10 28 42

43. Impacts
• Bird Population
Not visible anymore: Gang
shalik, Dahuk, Tiya, Badami
raj hans
Visible less frequently:
Sharash, Mas ranga, Boro sada
bok, Chakha, Bali hans,
Chatak, Cha pakhi
• Aquatic Animals:
Not available: Dhang fish,
Pangus, Bagar, Ghgorial
Rarely visible: Chital, Aairh
fish, Illish, Pial, Banspata,
Pabda, Meni, Ud, Sisu

44. Farakka Barrage, the greatest ever
riparian bluff for upstream water piracy

45. Economic losses due to environmental disaster
aggravated with the construction
of Farakka Barrage, 1976–1993 (Swain 1996)
ITEMS Financial loss in million
taka (1991 price index)
Agriculture 37000
Fisheries 63000
Forestry 990
Industry 1150
Public health 1180
Navigation 560
Dredging 560
GK intake channel and Gorai off take
channel
450
Total 113240

46. Long Term Solution
India and Bangladesh should jointly approach
Nepal for cooperative development and
management of the Ganges basin for
construction of high dams for generation of
hydropower and augmentation of the dry season
flow. Basin-wise development and management
plan should be taken for the Brahmaputra, the
Ganges and the Meghna within a time frame of
25/30 years.

47. Short Term Solution
Existing 30 years agreement should be reviewed
and a guarantee clause should be included. Within
the concept of the development and management
of the Ganges basin, there should also be an
agreement on sharing of the Ganges water at
Farakka for a period of 5/10 years. The sharing
agreement should also be reviewed after each 3
year term. Keeping in view the future
development of the Brahmaputra and the Meghna,
a feasibility study of the both rivers should be
carried out.

48. Solutions in brief
• India’s preference to negotiate water sharing bilaterally
• To augment water flow in the Ganges’ during the summer
• An artificial channel connection to the Ganges’ and
Brahmaputra between Sirajganj and Veramara
• Accumulation and dispersal of sediment and water ensuring
growth of delta
• Re-excavation and re-occupation of abandoned distributaries
of the major rivers would re-establish already disrupted
equilibrium of the hydrodynamic system due to upsteam
diversion of the Ganges’

49. Any
questions??

50. Thank you all for
co-operating with
us