An Indian delegation monitored water flow at Hardingebridge Point in Pabna under the terms of the 1996 India-Bangladesh 30-year ganga water sharing agreement.

On January 1 and 2 this year, the delegation observed and measured water flow at 4,000 feet upstream of Hardinge Bridge. On January 1 the water was measured at 75409 cusecs and on January 2 it was 72969 cusecs.

According to calculations, the water flow has decreased by 15 thousand cusecs in the last 1 year.

Ilyas Hossain, deputy assistant engineer of regional hydrology department of Pabna water development board confirmed this information.

The Indian delegation included executive engineer Ankit Dudeja and assistant director Mukesh Kumar Sharma of the central water commission of India. Pabna water development board regional hydrology department executive engineer Md. Rezaul Karim, deputy assistant engineer Elias Hossain and Pabna water development board officials are assisting the Indian delegation.

Elias Hossain said that two representatives of the Indian observation team observed the water flow at Harding Bridge Point on January 1 and 2. Water flow monitoring activities will continue till May 31.

He said that the four-member Bangladesh delegation under the leadership of Bangladesh Joint River Commission executive engineer Md. Riyadur Rahman has started measuring the water flow of the Ganga at Farakka Point in India.

According to the relevant sources, the amount of water flow in Padma on January 1, 2023 was 90730 cusecs whereas on January 1, 2024 the amount of water flow was 75409 cusecs. In the space of just one year, the water flow in Padma has decreased by 15321 cusecs.

According to the JRC website, on January 2, 2021, the water flow measured at Harding Bridge point was 78244 cusecs. On January 1, 2022, the water flow was measured at 118020 cusecs, in 2023 the water flow was 90730 cusec and on January 1, 2024 the water flow was measured to be 75409 cusecs.

Experts from both India and Bangladesh measure water levels at various points in the Ganga and Padma every year as per the 1996 Ganga Water Sharing Agreement. Joint monitoring of water flow in both countries will continue from January 1 to May 31.

According to the agreement, if the water level at Farakka Point is 70 thousand cusecs or less in the first cycle, both Bangladesh and India will get 50 percent of the water. In the second cycle, Bangladesh will get at least 35 thousand cusecs and India will get the rest. If the water flow at Farakka point is 70 to 75 thousand cusecs, India will get at least 40 thousand cusecs in the last cycle and Bangladesh will get the rest.