India to Consider Bihar's Interests in Ganga Water Treaty Renewal

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has stated that the Indian government will consider the interests of Bihar when deciding on the renewal of the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh. The treaty is set to expire in December 2026. In a letter dated August 28, Jaishankar informed Janata Dal (U) MP Sanjay Jha that the government understands the state's concerns and that inter-ministerial consultations involving the Jal Shakti Ministry and representatives from the Bihar government have taken place to examine the future of the agreement.

Sanjay Jha, a former Bihar Water Resources Minister, had previously urged the government not to renew the treaty. He argued that the agreement has negatively impacted Bihar's drinking water supply, irrigation, and industrial needs. Jha stated that scientific assessments show the state is left short of water during lean seasons while water is released to Bangladesh. He emphasized that Bihar is not seeking a favor but is asking for what is established by scientific data to protect 130 million people.

Reports on the event differ in their framing of the political context. A center-left source frames the issue as a critique of the Gujral Doctrine era and notes that the treaty renewal is complicated by a lack of top level political meetings between India and Bangladesh. A center-right source frames the situation as a collaborative effort within the ruling National Democratic Alliance, highlighting the long term advocacy of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Jha's satisfaction with the government's response.