Why in the News?

It was nearly 50 years ago, that India had completed the construction of the Farakka Barrage.

About Farakka Barrage

The Farakka Barrage is located on the Ganges River in Murshidabad District, West Bengal, India, about 18 km from the Bangladesh border.
The barrage measures 2,304 meters (7,559 feet) in length.
Its construction began in 1962 and was completed in 1970 at a cost of 1 billion dollars. It became operational on April 21, 1975.
The Feeder Canal is approximately 42 km long, connecting the barrage to the Hooghly River.
Purpose:
- It diverts water to the Hooghly River to maintain the navigability of Kolkata Port and to flush out sediment from the river.
- It diverts 1,800 cubic meters per second of water from the Ganges.
Construction Details:
- Built by Hindustan Construction Company, it consists of 109 gates, with 108 over the river and one over low-lying land as a precaution.
- Supports the Farakka Super Thermal Power Station.
The 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty ensured fair water distribution:
- 70,000 cusecs or less: 50% to both India and Bangladesh.
- 70,000 – 75,000 cusecs: India gets 35,000 cusecs, Bangladesh the balance.
- 75,000 cusecs or more: India receives 40,000 cusecs, Bangladesh gets the remainder.

The Farakka Barrage is crucial for irrigation in West Bengal, supporting agriculture during the dry season.
Bangladesh, particularly Mongla and Khulna, depends on the Ganges for water.
The diverted water has led to water scarcity, impacting agriculture, fisheries, and livelihoods in Bangladesh, causing diplomatic tensions.
This treaty ensures equitable distribution and guarantees a minimum flow for Bangladesh.

- Water diversion has led to salinization and soil degradation in Bangladesh, affecting agriculture and freshwater supplies.
- Biodiversity loss and damage to the Sundarbans mangrove forests have been significant environmental impacts.

[UPSC 1997] The canal-carrying capacity of Farakka is:

(a) 40,000 cusecs (b) 60,000 cusecs (c) 80,000 cusecs (d) 100,000 cusecs