Consider the following statements regarding India's water-sharing treaties with its neighbours:

Question

Consider the following statements regarding India's water-sharing treaties with its neighbours:

1) The Mahakali Treaty signed with Nepal in 1996 includes provisions for integrated development of the Mahakali River and the Pancheshwar Project.

2) The Ganga Water Treaty signed with Bangladesh in 1996 allows for the sharing of Ganga waters at Farakka throughout the entire year.

Which of the statements above is/are correct?

1. A. Only 1 is Correct (Correct answer)
2. B. Only 2 is Correct
3. C. Both 1 and 2 are Correct
4. D. Neither 1 nor 2 are Correct

Correct Answer

Option A — Only 1 is Correct

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Only 1 is Correct.

Key Points

• Statement 1 is correct: the Mahakali Treaty (1996) with Nepal covers the integrated development of the Mahakali river, including the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project, along with the Sarada Barrage and Tanakpur.
• Statement 2 does not hold as given, so only the first statement is correct.

Additional Information

• India's other major water agreements: the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) with Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank, and the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty (1996) with Bangladesh on the Farakka Barrage.
• Under the Indus treaty India received the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas, Sutlej — and Pakistan the western — Indus, Jhelum, Chenab.
• The Mahakali is called the Sharda in India and forms part of the India–Nepal boundary.

प्रश्न (हिन्दी में)

भारत की अपने पड़ोसियों के साथ जल-बंटवारा संधियों के बारे में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए:

1) 1996 में नेपाल के साथ हस्ताक्षरित महाकाली संधि में महाकाली नदी और पंचेश्वर परियोजना के एकीकृत विकास के प्रावधान शामिल हैं।

2) 1996 में बांग्लादेश के साथ हस्ताक्षरित गंगा जल संधि पूरे वर्ष फरक्का में गंगा जल के बँटवारे की अनुमति देती है।

1. A. केवल 1 सही है
2. B. केवल 2 सही है
3. C. दोनों सही हैं
4. D. न तो 1 और न ही 2