The Colonial Legacy of Farakka Barrage

Abstract

The Farakka Barrage which was actually abandoned by the British government, but taken up by the Indian government is the most debated and controversial hydrological structure play important role in environmental politics between India and Bangladesh. Primarily planned by the colonial rulers, but constructed by the Indian government for improvement of navigability in Bhagirathi-Hooghly river to revive Kolkata port; overtime the Farakka Barrage fails to save Kolkata port and the structure itself become a regional dispute over sharing Ganges water between India and Bangladesh. Consequently the location of Farakka Barrage also unfavourably responsible for increasing intensity of flood disaster and riverbank erosion in Malda and Murshidabd district of West Bengal, turning its habitants as Environmentally Displaced Persons recurrently. Although adverse externalities of Farakka Barrage are so far comprehended, it will continue in a form of colonial legacy towards our coming generation.