ABSTRACT

The rationale and significance of signing a water treaty with India goes back to the history of Farakka Barrage. It was in 1961 that the Indian government announced its decision to build the Barrage, and in September 1963 the site at Farakka was chosen. The construction of the 7,363 feet long barrage, designed for a maximum discharge of 765m3/s (27,000ft3/s) and a head regulator for diversion capacity of 1,133m3/s (40,000ft3/s) of flow started in the following year (1964). The Pakistan government objected to the Indian plan and used bi-lateral and other international diplomatic channels to stop this programme. But these diplomatic efforts (between 1961 and 1970) did not bring desired results. In the meantime India constructed the barrage, and Bangladesh emerged as an independent country in 1971.