Bihar officials raise water rights concerns ahead of Ganges treaty renewal

Bihar officials have raised concerns regarding the renewal of the Ganges water sharing treaty between India and Bangladesh, which is set to expire in December. During a meeting in New Delhi with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary stated that the state's interests were overlooked when the original agreement was signed three decades ago.

Chaudhary noted that much of the water reaching the Farakka Barrage originates from Bihar's catchment areas, yet the state has not received its fair share for drinking water, irrigation, and industrial use. Jaishankar reportedly assured the delegation that these concerns would be considered during the treaty renewal process.

The discussions also covered the construction of high-level reservoirs and dams on the Kosi and other rivers in Nepal. Additionally, the Indian government discussed providing Bihar with representation at the Joint Project Office in Biratnagar, Nepal, and addressed the progress of irrigation and flood control projects through discussions with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.