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ENGINEERING FEATURES OF GANGA BARRAGE

PROJECT AND ITS COMMAND AREA

Conference Paper · December 2014

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.1728.2728

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 2nd International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering 26 –28 Dec, 2014 CUET, Chittagong, Bangladesh
Edited by: M.R.A.Mullick, M.R.Alam, M.S.Islam, M.O.Imam, M.J.Alam, S.K.Palit, M.H.Ali, M.A.R.Bhuiyan, S.M.Farooq, M.M.Islam, S.K.Pal, A.Akter, A.Hoque & G.M.S.Islam
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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ID: WRE 059

ENGINEERING FEATURES OF GANGA BARRAGE PROJECT AND
ITS COMMAND AREA
M. A. Matin1, M. M. Islam2*, A. Siddique2 & M. M. Islam3
1
BWDB, Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh.
2
Department of Civil Engineering, AUST, Dhaka 1208, Bangladesh.
3
RHD, Dhaka 1208, Bangladesh.
*Corresponding Author, <mashfiq7777@gmail.com>

ABSTRACT

Of the co-basin countries of the Ganga, Bangladesh is the lowermost riparian and allows the passage
of the entire flood flow of the Ganga basin to the sea through its rivers, distributaries and estuaries but
the development in upstream in India and particularly the Farakka Barrage has caused immense
damage to Bangladesh in terms of availability of dry season freshwater thereby badly affecting
agriculture particularly by propagation of sea salinity from the bay, environmental degradation,
fisheries etc. Long and protracted negotiations with India a sharing of dry season flow of the Ganga
have been arrived. A feasibility and design studies have been done to construct Ganga Barrage and
utilize the Bangladesh share of Ganga water for alleviating suffering of the people of the Ganga
dependent area. The project covering needs of irrigation, navigation, fighting salinity intrusion is now
waiting for a financing plan and implementation. The main barrage on the Ganga in Bangladesh will
be 2.1 km long and as by product will have 76.4 MW hydroelectric power and a second barrage on the
off take of the Gorai will have 36.6 MW. This paper intends to present salient feature of the Ganga
Barrage Project and describe how the people of Bangladesh suffering due to diversion of flows at
Farakka may get over the present difficulties of irrigation, navigation, fisheries pushing salinity down
so as to get more salinity free area for cultivation.

Keywords: Ganga Barrage Project, Ganga basin, Ganga, Salinity, Freshwater.

INTRODUCTION

The Ganga basin extends over more than 1 million square kilometres and encompasses parts of India
(about 80% of the total basin area), Nepal, China and Bangladesh (Fig. 1a). The length of the main
channel is some 2,525 km, while altitude ranges from 8,848m in the high Himalayas, to sea level in
the coastal deltas of India and Bangladesh. Hydrology in Bangladesh is dominated by the monsoon.
Based on this, the Seasons are defined as Monsoon Season: June-September, Post Monsoon Season:
October-November, Winter Season: December-February and Summer or Pre-monsoon Season:
March-May. In the context of Ganges Water Treaty 1996, the two defined seasons have received
prominence. These are Dry Season: January–May and Critical period: March 11 to May 10.
Hydrographical System in Bangladesh is dominated among others by the Ganga, Brahmaputra and
Meghna river (GBM) system sometimes referred to as GBM system and catchment of the GBM
System is presented below. Salient features of hydrographical system in Bangladesh are as follows:
a. Three major river systems, i.e. i) The Ganga-Padma, ii) The Brahmaputra-Jamuna, iii) The
Surma-Meghna draining a total of 1,660,000 km2 lying in China, Nepal, Bhutan and India and
confluence of these three major rivers within Bangladesh.
b. Fifty seven trans-boundary river (includes the three major rivers and their tributaries and
distributaries) system.
c. Seven independent rivers draining Chittagong and Chittagong Hill Tracts directly into the Bay of
Bengal.
d. Inland water bodies of haor, baors and beels.
e. A coastline of over 700 km and large estuarine waters in the coastal districts.

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 2nd International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering 26 –28 Dec, 2014 CUET, Chittagong, Bangladesh
Edited by: M.R.A.Mullick, M.R.Alam, M.S.Islam, M.O.Imam, M.J.Alam, S.K.Palit, M.H.Ali, M.A.R.Bhuiyan, S.M.Farooq, M.M.Islam, S.K.Pal, A.Akter, A.Hoque & G.M.S.Islam
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f. Low topography of coastal districts and propagation of tide and salinity from the bay into the
inland.
g. Occurrence of coastal cyclones and propagation of associated storm surges causing great losses to
life and properties.

Definition of Regional Rivers as a standard terminology is not readily available in publications.

BWDB (Bangladesh Water Development Board) has classified the rivers as (i) Major Rivers, (ii)
Tributary, (iii) Distributaries, (iv) Independent Rivers and (v) Estuaries. Based on the course of the
major rivers dividing the country into a few blocks and also considering few other characteristics,
WARPO (Water Resources Planning Organisation) has divided the country into eight hydrological
regions by natural boundaries of principal river systems (Fig. 1d), while the hilly areas of the eastern
part of the country form another hydrological unit. Based on these principles, eight regions have been
defined as the (i) Northwest (NW), (ii) the North Central (NC), (iii) the Northeast (NE), (iv) the
Southeast (SE), (v) the South Central (SC), (vi) the Southwest (SW), (vii) the Eastern Hills (EH), and
(viii) the active floodplains and char lands of the Main Rivers and Estuaries (RE). Of the three Major
Rivers–The Ganga-Padma, the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and the Surma-Meghna, the course of the Ganga
rises from the Gongotri glacier on the southern slope of the Himalyas at an elevation of over 8,848 m
west of Nanda Devi range in Himachal Pradesh and northernmost Uttar Pradesh, west of Nepal. The
river comes out of the Himalyan and Siwalik range near Dehradun and enters the plains at Hardwar.
In the plains the Ganga has a easterly course and receives tributaries from the north in Nepal
(Mahakali, Karnali Kamala, Gandak, Kosi etc) and from the south in Rajasthan and northern slope of
Vindhya parbat (Tons, Sone, Punpun etc.).

The river enters Bangladesh from the west some 11 km east of the Farakka Barrage and flows another
about 95 km by the India Bangladesh border before entering totally into Bangladesh. From this point
the river flows in a south easterly direction for another 120 km and confluences with the Jamuna
upstream of Aricha. The total length of the river up to Aricha is 2,200 km. The combined flow of
Ganga and Jamuna downstream of Goalundo assumes the name of Padma and confluences with the
upper Meghna upstream of Chandpur and is now called Lower Meghna which after travelling for
another 80 km discharges into the Bay of Bengal through a number of estuaries. The greater districts
of Kushtia, Jessore, Khulna, Faridpur, and Barisal on the right bank of the course of Ganga-Padma-
Meghna is known as the Gangetic delta in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh the Mohananda left bank
tributary flowing by the side of Chapai-Nawabganj confluences with the Ganga near Godagari. In its
further downstream course the river throws out left bank distributaries the Baral in Natore, and the
right bank distributaries the Mathabhanga, Kumar, Gorai and Chandana-Arakandi before
confluencing with the Jamuna.

The water diversion structures that India has built up over the years on the Ganga including the
Farraka Barrage, are the reasons for the dwindling dry season flow in the Ganga in Bangladesh.
Ganga Barrage Project can contribute to a great extent to minimize the effects of lean season reduced
water availability over a large part of the country. The perspective view of the proposed Ganga
Barrage is shown in Fig. 1c. This project is also critically important to save a vast area which is
almost one-third of the size of the country and which has been severely deprived of fresh water flows
to it ever since the operation of the Farraka Barrage in India in the seventies. It will arrest land
subsidence by reducing dependence on groundwater for irrigation. The barrage will facilitate
irrigation of about 19 lakh hectares of arable land in greater Kushtia, Faridpur, Jessore, Khulna,
Barisal, Pabna and Rajshahi districts. The project will also allow construction of a 118 to 160 MW
hydroelectric power plant with the barrage. The augmented flow of the Padma and its tributaries and
distributaries will push back saline intrusion in the lands and save the Sunderbans. Desertification and
threat to the overall environment will be much reduced and fishing and related occupations will
experience good times again.

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 2nd International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering 26 –28 Dec, 2014 CUET, Chittagong, Bangladesh
Edited by: M.R.A.Mullick, M.R.Alam, M.S.Islam, M.O.Imam, M.J.Alam, S.K.Palit, M.H.Ali, M.A.R.Bhuiyan, S.M.Farooq, M.M.Islam, S.K.Pal, A.Akter, A.Hoque & G.M.S.Islam
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(a) (b)

(c) (d)
Fig. 1. (a) Catchment Area GBM System, (b) Superimposed daily average flow curve (dry season) for the three periods
(1934-74, 1975-96, 1997-2010) at Hardinge Bridge site, (c) Perspective view of proposed Ganga Barrage (as per Report on
Ganga Barrage, 2014), (d) Hydrological Regions.

BACKGROUND AND HISTORICAL GANGA FLOW

The Ganges Water Treaty (GWT 1996) signed on the 12 December, 1996 sets out the basis on which
flows arriving at Farakka are shared between Bangladesh and India. The Government of Bangladesh
(GOB) decided to examine and evaluate the options for effective utilization of waters available in the
Ganges Dependent Area (GDA) because of the implementation of GWT 1996. Table 1 provides list of
Ganga Depended Area (GDA) in Bangladesh. The National Water Management Plan (NWMP)
strategy took into account these options (NWMP 2004). Accordingly a study entitled Options for the
Ganga Dependent Area (OGDA) had been undertaken by the Water Resources Planning Organization
(WARPO) under the Ministry of Water Resources. As a follow up of this, the feasibility study of
Ganga Barrage in Bangladesh was undertaken under BWDB by a joint venture of Engineering
Consultants with Design Development Consultant (DDC) as lead firm. The Joint Venture also utilized
the technical support of BUET, RRI, IWM and CEGIS. The feasibility study finalized the location of
the Barrage at Pangsha to create a reservoir 160 km long upstream and through a number of
hydrologic, hydrodynamic and physical model studies fixed position of Barrage, Hydraulic structural
features and points of tapping water from the reservoir (Fig. 2a and b). Discharge of the Ganga in
Bangladesh is measured at Hardinge Bridge. Discharge data at this station is available since 1934-
2010 (Fig. 1b). Farakka Barrage came into operation from 1975 and data for the period 1934-1974 is
considered as historical flow. The flow during the period 1975-1996 was controlled by various short
period agreements or absence of any agreement. Flow during the period 1997 onwards is controlled
by GWT 1996. Summary of monthly flows for these three periods are presented in Table 2.

Table 1: Ganga Depended Area (GDA) in Bangladesh

Division Sl. No. District Area (km2) Division Sl. No. District Area (km2)
1 Nawabganj 1702 15 Faridpur 2072
Rajshahi Dhaka
2 Rajshahi 2407 16 Rajbari 1119
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 2nd International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering 26 –28 Dec, 2014 CUET, Chittagong, Bangladesh
Edited by: M.R.A.Mullick, M.R.Alam, M.S.Islam, M.O.Imam, M.J.Alam, S.K.Palit, M.H.Ali, M.A.R.Bhuiyan, S.M.Farooq, M.M.Islam, S.K.Pal, A.Akter, A.Hoque & G.M.S.Islam
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3 Natore 1895 17 Madaripur 1145

4 Pabna 2371 18 Gopalganj 1490
5 Kushtia 1620 19 Shariatpur 1182
6 Chuadanga 1158 20 Barisal 2790
7 Meherpur 716 21 Barguna 1832
8 Jessore 2567 22 Bhola 3403
Barisal
9 Jhenaidah 1961 23 Jhalokathi 758
Khulna
10 Magura 1049 24 Patuakhali 3205
11 Narail 917 25 Pirojpur 1308
12 Khulna 4317 Total 50,802
13 Satkhira 3858
14 Bagerhat 3960

Table 2: Historical flow (m3/s) of the Ganga at Harding Bridge

Period 1934-74 (Pre-Farakka)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Max 5910 5040 4080 3260 4330 20300 50800 72000 73200 57800 26500 11200
Average 3088 2676 2305 2034 2151 4381 17817 38201 35990 17798 7076 4188
Min 1900 1800 1390 1190 1190 1680 3620 13600 12500 5190 3480 2410
Period 1975-96 (Post-Farakka)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Max 3800 2690 2240 2180 5990 17300 46500 69200 75800 50300 23600 6570
Average 1693 1254 975 932 1335 3433 18664 37290 37718 15823 5401 2745
Min 842 374 261 267 393 622 2620 11600 7300 4190 2010 1520
Period 1997-2010 (Post-GWT 1996)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Max 5950 2571 1606 1632 3539 22126 45384 67370 74278 52046 17753 28467
Average 1939 1346 945 934 1313 4101 21674 33793 31667 19076 7554 4824
Min 1040 739 212 330 581 713 1911 14034 16488 6340 854 1705
Source: JRC (B) website and Processing & FFWC, BWDB database and complied by Authors’.

SALIENT FEATURES OF FARAKKA BARRAGE

Fig. 2 shows the location of Farakka Barrage, the upstream tributaries coming from Nepal, Uttar
Pradesh and Central India and the right bank feeder (diversion) canal leading the flow to the
Bhagirathi and Hoogly rivers. The main objective of the barrage is to protect Calcutta port from
siltation and to increase navigability of the Bhagirathi and Hoogly rivers. The main components of the
barrage are the barrage on the Ganga at Farakka and on the Jangipur canal. A feeder canal from
upstream of the barrage to Jangipur is made which is 38.3 km long, 150.88m wide and 6 metre deep.
The construction of the canal was started in 1971 and completed in 1974. There is a head regulator on
the feeder canal. The main barrage is 2,245 metre long with 109 gates of 23 metres high and 18
metres wide with a discharge capacity of 27,00,000 cfs (76,515 cms, i.e. cubic meter per second).

LOCATION AND ENGINEERING FEATURES OF GANGA BARRAGE

Fig. 2b shows the location of the proposed Ganga Barrage in Bangladesh, the GDA and also the
location of Farakka Barrage 11 km beyond the border. From mid October to mid July Ganga upstream
will be in reservoir condition, the design full supply level will be 12.50 m-PWD. From mid July to
mid October all the gates of barrage will remain open and the river will remain in free flow condition.
Fig. 3a shows the location of barrage site on plan of the river and various points of tapping water from
the reservoir. Fig. 3b shows water level profile for Ganga River at Barrage location. Proposed diversion of
water from Ganga Barrage is provided in Table 4.

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 2nd International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering 26 –28 Dec, 2014 CUET, Chittagong, Bangladesh
Edited by: M.R.A.Mullick, M.R.Alam, M.S.Islam, M.O.Imam, M.J.Alam, S.K.Palit, M.H.Ali, M.A.R.Bhuiyan, S.M.Farooq, M.M.Islam, S.K.Pal, A.Akter, A.Hoque & G.M.S.Islam
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(a) (b)
Fig. 2. (a) Location of Farakka Barrage and Feeder canal in India and Location of Ganga Barrage in Bangladesh,
(b) Location of Ganga Barrage in Bangladesh and Farakka Barrage in India and GDA/Command area.

Table 3: Salient features of main barrage and allied structures

Sl. No. Engineering Features Size
1 Length of Barrage 2.1 km
2 Spillways 78 Gates: Each 18.0 m wide
3 Under sluices 18 Gates: Each 18.0 m wide
4 Navigation Locks 14.0 m wide
5 Fish Pass (2 No.) Each 20.0 m wide
6 Hydro Power Plant (4 turbines) Capacity 76.4 MW
7 Left Guide Bank 5.4 km
8 Right Guide Bank 6.0 km
9 Rail Bridge 2.1 km

Table 4: Proposed diversion of water in m3/s from Ganga Barrage

Link Channel River Intake Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
Godagari Pump House 53 51 51 28 38 64 45 30 30 30 30 30
Left Bank

for proposed NRIP

Baral 27 24 26 18 21 22 15 20 20 20 20 20
Ichamati & other 4 17 17 17 20 23 25 17 10 10 10 10 10
regulators of PIRDP
Hisna link includes 100 400 300 231 234 232 242 184 300 400 500 500 400
m3/s for salinity control
Right Bank

G-K Project Bheramara 88 90 103 127 136 76 100 100 100 100 100
Pump House
Gorai includes 150 m3/s 2500 1000 225 227 225 230 194 500 2500 7600 7600 2500
for salinity control
Chandana link 300 200 46 57 77 80 44 50 200 300 300 300
Total 3297 1680 686 687 743 799 575 1010 3260 8560 8560 3360
NRIP: North Rajshahi Irrigation Project, PIRDP: Pabna Integrated Rural Development Project, G-K Project: Ganga
Kobadak project.

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 2nd International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering 26 –28 Dec, 2014 CUET, Chittagong, Bangladesh
Edited by: M.R.A.Mullick, M.R.Alam, M.S.Islam, M.O.Imam, M.J.Alam, S.K.Palit, M.H.Ali, M.A.R.Bhuiyan, S.M.Farooq, M.M.Islam, S.K.Pal, A.Akter, A.Hoque & G.M.S.Islam
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(a)

(b)

Fig. 3. (a) River Plan from Pankha to Barrage site then to Confluence of Jamuna and Chandpur, (b)
Water level profile for Ganga River at Barrage Location: Pangsha, Hydrologic Condition: 12.5m pond
level at barrage site.

CONCLUSION

By the implementation of Ganga Barrage, the optimum utilization of Ganga waters of Bangladesh
share will be assured as well as GK Project (1,35,000 ha), Pabna Irrigation Project (1,85,000 ha),
existing FCD/FCDI projects (12,00,000 ha) and 19,00,000 ha of SW area will be served by surface
water Irrigation. The present pressure of underground water extraction for irrigation in NW area will
be reduced. At the main barrage and at Gorai offtake structure 113 MW hydro-electricity will be
generated almost as a byproduct. Increase of dry season flow in the rivers will push salinity front
substantially downstream. In Sundarban about 33% of the high salinity area will be reduced to low
salinity area. Proposed flood control interventions will make the project area flood free. There shall be
25,00,000 tons additional food productions and 2,40,000 tons of fish production. There will be
substantial expansion of navigation and road transport facilities. Based on 2012 price, the cost of the
project will be 31,414 crore taka with a FE component of 103 crore USD. The annual net incremental
benefit will be 7,340 crore taka. After implementation of the project cost of the project will be
returned from the benefit of the project within 5 years. The project is therefore a candidate of very
high priority for implementation.

REFERENCES

Ganges Water Treaty (GWT), 1996. Treaty between the Government of the Republic of India and the
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on Sharing the Ganga/Ganges waters at Farakka.

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 2nd International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering 26 –28 Dec, 2014 CUET, Chittagong, Bangladesh
Edited by: M.R.A.Mullick, M.R.Alam, M.S.Islam, M.O.Imam, M.J.Alam, S.K.Palit, M.H.Ali, M.A.R.Bhuiyan, S.M.Farooq, M.M.Islam, S.K.Pal, A.Akter, A.Hoque & G.M.S.Islam
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National Water Management Plan (NWMP), 2004. Main Report, Volume 2, Water Resource Planning
Organizations.

Report on Ganga Barrage. 2014. Ministry of Water Resources, Bangladesh.

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