Water politics once again seems to be heating up in the diplomatic corridors of South Asia. The historic Ganga Water Treaty signed between India and Bangladesh in 1996 is very close to completing its three-decade period. Meanwhile, some prominent water experts and political analysts of Bangladesh have started giving strange and sharp arguments regarding the renewal of this treaty. There is a growing demand in Dhaka circles that not only India and Bangladesh but also Nepal should be included as a party to the upcoming treaty. Not only this, these experts have also accused India of serious breach of promise by reneging on old promises and not fulfilling the provisions decided during the treaty. This diplomatic spat has sparked a new debate regarding future water agreements between the two countries, which is also being closely monitored at the international level. Deadline of Ganga Water Treaty and new bet to include Nepal: Let us tell you that on 12 December 1996, an agreement was made between India and the then Bangladesh government regarding sharing of Ganga water for 30 years, the deadline of which is now about to expire. As the time for renewal of this treaty is approaching, new proposals have started coming forward from Bangladeshi experts. Some policy makers and water experts in Bangladesh argue that the geographical scope of the Ganga river basin is quite large and the rivers of Nepal also play an important role in it. He believes that if this treaty is to be made long-term and more effective, then apart from India and Bangladesh, Nepal should also be included in it under the Trilateral Framework. However, geopolitical experts say that such multilateral involvement in water diplomacy matters can increase the complexities of bilateral negotiations to a great extent, because India has always been in favor of resolving water disputes on mutual and bilateral platforms. Bangladeshi experts have accused India of breaking promises and getting less water. During this entire debate, many old and new questions are being raised by Bangladesh on India. Some analysts there allege that during the last three decades, during the summer i.e. dry season, Bangladesh has not been able to get the amount of water that was estimated or determined in the 1996 treaty. They also argue that modern aspects like climate change, environmental flows and changing river ecosystems were not given adequate space in this treaty. Moreover, the storage or barrage projects that were discussed under the old agreements to increase the flow of water could not be fully implemented, which the Bangladeshi side is terming as 'breach of agreement'. Indian diplomatic experts believe that such allegations are often made due to political and domestic pressure, whereas India has always managed the water smoothly keeping in mind the interests of both the countries. The issue of shared rivers between India and Bangladesh has always been a highly sensitive one with implications for bilateral relations and regional diplomacy. More than 54 rivers flow between the two countries, which are the mainstay of livelihood of crores of people on both sides. At a time when diplomatic equations are changing rapidly after the political change in Bangladesh, this issue of renewal of Ganga Water Treaty has become more important. Experts believe that instead of doing politics on sensitive needs like water, both the countries should negotiate with scientific data, mutual trust and practical approach. The attempt to drag Nepal into this treaty is also being seen as a strategic diplomatic move to put pressure on India. Only the meetings and talks to be held between the two countries in the coming days will decide in which direction this biggest water treaty of South Asia moves forward in its new form.
