The Culprit of Ganges!

Floating from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal The Ganges is serving nature on its way of journey. Like the Ganges, pollution does not stay within the wired fences. Thus, it makes it challenging to manage The Ganges with national jurisdiction.

The people of India and Bangladesh, as well as wildlife and ecosystem, rely on the Ganges. As it is the river of both countries, it became more challenging to protect our river from other nations. Also, to protect our river, there is no law except for one treaty for the Padma. Through the water-sharing treaty, "Ganges water agreement 1977" was possible to create.

Due to water scarcity, the transboundary of freshwater resources became more difficult. Bangladesh was a participant in the 1972 Stockholm Conference and 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Thus, Bangladesh signed and agreed to create laws and principles to save the Ganges river. But political issues were more focused than the ecological dynamics of the transboundary problem.

Even if Bangladesh was equally deserver of The Ganges, India was responsible for ensuring equitable access to the Ganges. Thus, the no-harm principle could have been practiced as it is an international law that makes sure that countries' development activities don't harm the other countries' economies or nature. There is the question arise are other countries are going to take responsibility for their action? As all the countries also have the right to develop themselves. Then what extent will they take responsibility?

India took action that was not favorable enough for Bangladesh. They were trying to have the Ganges ' water to themselves. In 2019 the Supreme court of Bangladesh gave all the existing rivers legal rights, including the Ganges. Thus, it is now possible to take the culprit to court if they harm our rivers.

No-harm treaty was the hope for us that it will be legally crime if any countries or industries harm the Ganges directly or indirectly as well as safe our ecosystem of the river. It also restricted some amount of action of India. But the no-harm treaty is valid only for 30 years.

The Farakka Barrage is located near Monohorpur. India entirely controls the Ganges water flow, and the Ganges decrease at Farraka point, there will be minimal water for Bangladesh. Though the treaty is a learning point for India, without a precise mechanism, the Ganges treaty does not have the power to achieve the rights of the Ganges over political power.

Bangladesh already lost 15600 km inland transportation route, and the 3300 km route is at risk. Also, locals are arguing that the Ganges River water has entirely changed because of Farakka Barrage. Not only that but they are also affected directly or indirectly as the Barrage is affecting rivers and fisheries.

At the time of 1999-2000, Bangladesh could produce 23.07 million tons of rice, but after the Farakka Barrage, it is now half of it. About 34% of crops are extinct because of the scarcity of water. Rice production will come to an end in our country If this continues like this.

After finding the Environmental Impact Assessment result, we can say 8% of the farmer, 24% of the boatman, 65% of the fisherman changed their livelihood because of the Frakka Barrage impact.

Farakka Barrage not only affecting our livelihood but also our biodiversity. Due to the insufficient flow of water, the floral composition is decreasing in this region. Also, some aquatic animals are on the verge of extinction because of Farakka Barrage. The Ganges River Dolphine and the Ganges Softshell Turtle are listed endangered species.

According to international law, Farakka Barrage is a complete violation of the "No harm principle" as no nation can harm other countries through their development activities. India has been violating the law by building hydrological dams on the transboundary river.

Even if the No harm principle was accepted by all countries to conserve, protect, and sustainably manage transboundary resources between countries, we can see that India is violating the international law in the Ganges River treaty. Also, there is scientific evidence that India's development activities on Bangladesh's transboundary rivers face floods, salinity intrusion in the southern part, water scarcity, and ecological imbalance. However, in this region, negotiations for transboundary river negotiations happen anecdotal, not on scientific evidence.

No harm principle should be enforced for India- Bangladesh sharing agreement, and if they violate the law, they need to compensate.

(Faizi Nuzhat Supti is a student of B.sc in Environmental Management, North South University)

AH