Editorial
Good Discharge at Farakka
It is now confirmed knowledge that the fullness of the Padma at the Hardinge Bridge owed it not merely to an upper riparian plenitude but very cogently to the expectedly dutifully generous discharges at the Farakka point. The joint expert committee of the two countries has released data which show that during the first two ten-day cycles of this lean season the discharge of water at Farakka and its availability at the Hardinge Bridge point more than doubled the levels of Jan 1-20, 1997.
We are greatly heartened by this improvement in the outlook on implementation of the Ganges Water-sharing Treaty which went largely by default last year causing a big heartbreak in Bangladesh. With the water level at the Hardinge Bridge at one stage falling even below the lowest point recorded during the pre-accord proximate year, many started wondering whether the treaty was being a stark non-starter in the most crucial launch year.
The monitoring pattern of unrelenting vigil already established this year with daily measurements of water religiously taken at the relevant points in both countries must be maintained till April of the current year. Simultaneously, the other hydrological parameters need to be constantly under watch. In other words, the implementation machinery will have to be fool-proof and efficient drawing on the knowledge of the pitfalls of last year.
It is absolutely essential that along with transparency secured in the operationalisation of the treaty our own government ought to release relevant data at regular intervals to keep the people in picture.
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