Lok Sabha Question No. 260 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-17
Subject: Water Sharing Treaty with Neighbouring Countries
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 260

ANSWERED ON 17.11.2016

## WATER SHARING TREATY WITH NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

## 260. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL

Will  the  Minister  of  WATER  RESOURCES,  RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND  GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  India  has  signed  any  treaty  regarding  sharing  of  water  with  some  neighbouring countries;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the quantum of water likely to be available to India as a result of each such treaty?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR  WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION

(DR SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

- (a) Yes, Madam.

The Government of India have signed three treaties namely, (i) India-Bangladesh for sharing of waters of river Ganga at Farakka on 12 th December 1996, (ii) India- Nepal (Mahakali Treaty) for development of water resources of Mahakali river (known as Sharda in India) on 12 th February 1996 and (iii) The Indus Waters Treaty(India-Pakistan) in 1960. In addition there are agreements with Nepal on Kosi and Gandak.

- (b) &(c) Brief details are at Annexure-I

*****

Annexure referred to reply to part (b) and (c) of the Unstarred question No 260 to be answered in Lok Sabha on 17.11.2016 regarding 'Water Sharing Treaties with Neighbouring Countries'

## Brief details of water sharing treaty with neighbouring countries are given below:

## 1) India - Bangladesh Treaty

The Treaty provides for sharing of waters of river Ganga at Farakka during lean period(1 st January to 31 st May),as per the following formula:

| Availability at Farakka     | Share of India   | Share of Bangladesh   |
|-----------------------------|------------------|-----------------------|
| 70,000 cusecs or less       | 50%              | 50%                   |
| 70,000 cusecs-75,000 cusecs | Balance of flow  | 35,000 cusec          |
| 75,000 cusecs or more       | 40,000 cusecs    | Balance of flow       |

Subject to the condition that India and Bangladesh each shall receive guaranteed 35,000 cusecs of water in alternate three 10-day periods during the period March 11 to May 10.The treaty is for 30 years and is being implemented successfully.

## 2) Mahakali Treaty

The Treaty provides for integrated development of Mahakali river which is guided by the principles of equality,  mutual  benefit  and  no  harm  to  either  Party.  The  development  of  Pancheshwar  Multipurpose Project is centrepiece of the Treaty.

It is valid for 75 years with the provision to be reviewed by both the Parties at ten (10) years interval or earlier as required by either Party and make amendments thereto, if necessary.

The sharing of water at various points is as follows.

|   S. No. | Point            | Nepal's share                                                            | India's share   |
|----------|------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|
|        1 | Sharda Barrage   | 28.35 m 3 /s (1000 cusecs) in wet season (15 th May to 15 th October)    | Remaining water |
|        1 | Sharda Barrage   | 4.25 m 3 /s (150 cusecs) in dry season (16 th October to 14 th May)      | Remaining water |
|        1 | Sharda Barrage   | 10 m 3 /s (350 cusecs) for maintaining ecosystem of river                | Remaining water |
|        2 | Tanakpur Barrage | 28.35 m 3 /s (1000 cusecs) in wet season (15 th May to 15 th October     | Remaining water |
|        2 | Tanakpur Barrage | 8.50 m 3 /s (300 cusecs) in dry season (16 th October to 14 th May)      | Remaining water |
|        2 | Tanakpur Barrage | 10 m 3 /s (350 cusecs) for irrigation of Dodhara- Chandani area of Nepal | Remaining water |

## 3) Indus Water Treaty

India had signed the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan under the aegis of the World Bank in 1960. The main features of the Treaty are as under:

- i) Under the provision of Treaty, all the waters of the three Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej with their tributaries)  were allocated to India for the unrestricted use,  while that of Western Rivers (Indus,  Jhelum,  Chenab  with  their  tributaries)  were  allocated  to  Pakistan.  However,  India  is permitted  to  use  the  waters  of  Western  Rivers  for  domestic,  non-consumptive,  specified agricultural use and generation of hydro-electric power through Run of River (ROR) projects on the Western rivers as per criteria mentioned in the Treaty.
2. ii) India can build storage projects on the Western Rivers to create storages up to  3.6 Million Acre Feet (MAF) for general, power and flood protection purposes (river- wise and use- wise storages that can be created and the criteria are defined in the Treaty).