Chronology of Events

Abstract

An account of the gradual deterioration of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly, the expert opinions as regards deterioration of this river and also the Calcutta Port activities, events leading to the disputes and misunderstandings between the two countries, India and Bangladesh (earlier East Pakistan) on the sharing of the Ganga waters from the beginning, the meetings at technical as well as political levels, the political and administrative changes in two countries and developments according to the passage of time etc. can now be brought out in statements for better understanding. The statements have been prepared on five different topics as noted below:

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An account of the gradual deterioration of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly, the expert opinions as regards deterioration of this river and also the Calcutta Port activities, events leading to the disputes and misunderstandings between the two countries, India and Bangladesh (earlier East Pakistan) on the sharing of the Ganga waters from the beginning, the meetings at technical as well as political levels, the political and administrative changes in two countries and developments according to the passage of time etc. can now be brought out in statements for better understanding. The statements have been prepared on five different topics as noted below:

• 1. Deterioration of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly.

• 2. Suggestions for resuscitation of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly.

  • i) Before India’s Independence.

  • ii) After India’s Independence.

  • iii) Adverse views.

• 3. Construction of Farakka Barrage.

• 4. Negotiations on the sharing and augmentation of the Ganga water.

  • i) With Pakistan (1947–1971).

  • ii) With Bangladesh (1971–1977).

• 5. On the Agreement, Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) and Treaty.

12.1 Deterioration of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly

Table 1

12.2 Suggestions etc. for Resuscitation of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly

12.2.1 i) Before India’s Independence

Table 2

12.2.2 ii) After India’s Independence

Table 3

12.2.3 iii) Adverse Views

Table 4

12.3 Construction of Farakka Barrage

Year	Events
1947	The West Bengal Government starts investigation for the Ganga Barrage Project. Field surveys conducted and a preliminary report prepared.
1949	Investigations are taken over by the Government of India.
1952	An Expert committee, headed by Man Singh, reviews model studies and recommends a barrage project.
1952–1958	Outcry in Lok Sabha (the lower house of India’s Parliament) by West Bengal MPs.
1956	A separate cell created in the Central Water and Power Commission, New Delhi for investigation, planning and design of the Farakka Barrage Complex.
1957	Dr. Walter Hensen is invited by the Government of India to review the preliminary report; after review, he recommends that India can go ahead with the project.
1958–1960	Long debate in Indian Parliament on the deterioration of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly, Calcutta Port activities and on the need for a barrage. K. K. Framji joins the Ganga Barrage organization as its head and starts a scientific study of the problem by examining the reports of the past expert investigations and the recommendations thereon. He recommends that in 1960 that the construction of the Farakka Barrage may immediately be started.
1960	Prime Minister J. L. Nehru assures Dr. B. C. Roy, Chief Minister of West Bengal that the project would be included in the ongoing Five-Year Plan. Administrative approval and financial sanction of the project for about 590 million rupees given by the Government of India and green signal given for construction of the barrage and other allied works. Ganga Barrage Field Investigation Circle formed and field surveys started.
1961	National Development Council includes the Farakka Barrage Project in five-year plan. Pakistan is informed that the work on the project has started. A high-power control board is formed, headed by the Union Minister of Irrigation and Power, constituted with the Government of West Bengal Minister of Irrigation and Waterways as Deputy Chairman, the Union Ministers of Railways, Transport and Finance, the Calcutta Port Commissioners as members and the Chief Engineer of the Project as Member-Secretary. A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Project formed with experts from all over the country as chairman and members. R. B. Chakravarty, an engineer of repute from the irrigation department of the Government of West Bengal appointed Chief Engineer of the project.
1962	The Calcutta Port Commissioners set up a Hydraulic Study Department to carry out investigation and improvement works in the Hooghly and its estuary.
1963	The barrage site is selected by Dr. K. L. Rao, Union Irrigation and Power Minister. Debesh Mukherjee joins as Chief Engineer of the project in place of R. B. Chakravarty. The Farakka Barrage Project office starts functioning from Kolkata.
1964	The project office is shifted to Farakka. The construction of the barrage starts.
1965–1967	Three bays, No. 1 to 3 and the head regulator on the right bank and bays No. 109 to 101 from the left bank completed. M/s. Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) starts work from the left bank and the National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC) starts work from the right bank. M/s. Jessop & Company is entrusted with all structural steel works, like gates, hoists etc. Excavation work of the feeder canal is started by M/s. Tarapore & Company and M/s. G. S. Atwal & Company. Navigation lock work started by the NPCC.
1966–1967	Bays No. 100 to 78 from left bank completed. Navigation lock work suspended. Works on Jangipur barrage.
1967–1968	Bays No. 77 to 53 from left bank and Bays No. 4 to 12 from right bank completed.
1968–1969	Bays No. 13 to 52 completed.
1967–1970	Erection of steel gates completed.
1964–1975	Feeder canal excavation including the bridge work at RD 62 (Pakur Road bridge) completed in April 1975.
1975	On 21st May, the barrage is dedicated to the nation by Jagjivan Ram, Union Ministry for Irrigation and Power.
1987	Navigation Lock commissioned by Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister of India.

12.4 Negotiations on Sharing and Augmentation of the Ganga Water

12.4.1 i) With Pakistan (1961–1971)

Table 6

12.4.2 ii) With Bangladesh (1971–1977)

Table 7

12.5 Signing of Agreement, MOUs and Treaty, 1977–2000

Table 8