The dwindling level of water levels in the Ganga has set off a crisis. Indian officials are meeting their Bangladeshi counterparts to work a way out.
NEW DELHI: The dwindling level of water levels in the Ganga in Kolkata has set off a crisis. Indian officials are meeting their Bangladeshi counterparts on Wednesday to work a way out.
Bigger ships cannot dock at Kolkata port due to the low levels of water, said a Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) official.
The super thermal power station of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) at Farakka has had to shut down two of its five units, resulting in a loss of about 300 MW of power generation.
The low level of water flow also endangers the stability of the barrage as the water cuts into the earth under the concrete structure on the sides.
The Kolkata port requires a minimum flow of 20,000 cusecs to maintain its navigability. The NTPC also requires substantial quantities of water for its cooling towers.
The thermal power plant has been sending letter after letter to the MoWR, pointing to the severity of problem from water and power shortage in the summer season, but the latter’s hands are tied. There is just not enough water.
Already, Bangladesh has been complaining that Padma, as Ganga is known across the border, was running dry. With water levels down, the Indo-Bangla treaty on Ganga water sharing has come under strain.
The India-Bangladesh Treaty lays down norms for sharing of Ganga waters at Farakka during the lean season of January to May every year. The 1996 Treaty allows the two countries to share the water on a 50:50 rotation basis.
Each country is allowed 35,000 cusecs, leaving the rest of the flow to the other country for a 10-day rotation. The Treaty provides for ‘immediate consultation’ between the two countries when the water flow to the Farakka was less than 60,000 cusecs.
The flow has been less than this mark since February. For the last several weeks, it has hovered between 50,000-52,000 cusecs. It improved somewhat reaching 59,000 cusecs, still short of the 60,000 cusecs mark. The two countries have alternately been getting their 35,000 cusecs but this has been unable to stem the problems resulting from water shortage.
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