Farakka Barrage
Origin of the Transboundary Water Dispute
The Farakka Barrage is a dam on the Ganges in West Bengal, constructed by India between 1962 and 1975. Its primary purpose was to divert water into the Hooghly River (a distributary of the Ganges) to flush silt from the Kolkata port and maintain its navigability. The barrage's commissioning in 1975 sharply reduced dry-season water flow into Bangladesh, triggering the long-standing transboundary dispute.
- Location: Murshidabad district, West Bengal; ~18 km upstream of the Bangladesh border
- Commissioned: 1975 (construction began 1962)
- Purpose: Divert Ganges water into the Hooghly River to maintain Kolkata port navigability
- Capacity: 2.5 million cusecs; diverts water via a 38.38 km feeder canal
- Pre-treaty arrangements: Short-term agreements in 1977 (5 years) and 1982 (MoU for 2 years) preceded the 1996 treaty
- International dimension: Bangladesh raised the issue at the UN General Assembly in 1976; led to establishment of the Joint Rivers Commission
● Tracked since February 15, 2026 · last seen September 03, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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