The 1996 Ganga Water Sharing Treaty is a 30-year bilateral agreement between India and Bangladesh, signed in December 1996, to share the Ganga’s water during the lean season (January 1–May 31). The treaty is scheduled to expire in December 2026.

Why such an initiative?

  • It ensures fair water distribution for both upstream (India) and downstream (Bangladesh) users, especially during low-flow periods. 

Key Features

  • It regulates water flow at the Farakka Barrage in West Bengal.
  • The fund will select projects through a transparent, competitive challenge mode focused on results-oriented projects.
  • Private sector participation will be encouraged through structured risk-sharing frameworks and benchmarking of service delivery standards. 
  • The fund will cover all cities with a population of 10 lakh or more.
  •  Central assistance will cover 25% of project costs.
  • A minimum of 50% of the project cost should be raised from the market, including municipal bonds, bank loans, and public-private partnerships.
  • A dedicated ₹5,000 crore corpus will enhance the creditworthiness of 4,223 cities.
Fact you need to know :

  • Farakka Barrage is essential for maintaining the navigability of the Calcutta Port.
  • Calcutta port or Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port is India’s oldest operating and sole major riverine port, situated on the banks of the Hooghly River.

 

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Source: The Hindu

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