The Issue of FARAKKA: 
An Introduction

II.    The Stated Goals

"In explaining the pressing need of undertaking the Farakka Barrage project, the Government of India, in a published pamphlet of its Ministry of External Affairs, puts forward a statement which reads:

'The Farakka Barrage Project has been undertaken by India in order to provide head water supplies for maintaining and stabilizing the flow of Bhagirathi-Hooghly, the name of Ganga in its lower reaches in India. This project is vital for the port and city of Calcutta and for the economy of the vast hinterland of the port." [Begum, p. 17]

The details of the objectives are as following:

a. To provide for river control by constructing a barrage which should also carry a railway-cum-road bridge;

b. To supply water for resuscitation of the moribund rivers;

c. To provide flushing-cum-irrigation;

d. To supply water for the benefit of Calcutta Port through the Bhagirathi;

e. To provide a direct and perennial navigation route between Calcutta and the Ganga located exclusively within the Indian Union. This is an important objective, as besides avoiding the risk of transport of Indian goods through Pakistan, it will cut down the length of the route by 450 miles. [Mazumdar in Sarma, p. 79]

The idea of the Barrage was conceived in early 50s. The project was undertaken by India in 1961 based on an unilateral decision and Pakistan was informed about it The barrage was completed in 1974 after the independence of Bangladesh.

Go to Part III: The Sealed Fate BEFORE 1947
Go to the Farakka Index

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