West Bengal has signed an MoU with GIZ to prepare a basin-based master plan to restore the Ichhamati and Jalangi rivers shared with Bangladesh, addressing pollution, siltation and declining flows.
The government of West Bengal has signed a memorandum of understanding with the German development agency GIZ and the State Mission for Clean Ganga to prepare a basin-based master plan for two transboundary rivers, the Ichhamati and the Jalangi, shared by India and Bangladesh.
The initiative aims to restore river ecosystems, improve water flow, reduce pollution and support irrigation, fisheries, biodiversity and local livelihoods in both countries. Officials said the master plan is expected to be ready within a year before implementation begins.
MoU and Basin Planning
State Irrigation and Waterways Minister Manas Bhuniya said the Ichhamati and the Jalangi were selected as the first among West Bengal’s 39 river sub-basins to undergo basin-based planning under the “Nodi Bandhan” programme announced in the 2025–26 state budget, with an allocation of Rs 200 crore.
“The tripartite agreement aims to address long-standing environmental challenges affecting these river systems, including declining water flow, pollution, erosion and heavy siltation,” he said.
Proposed restoration measures include dredging to improve flow, diverting surplus water from other basins, reducing pollution and environmental hazards, minimising riverbank erosion, enhancing groundwater recharge, strengthening flood management and improving irrigation supply.
Ecological Challenges
The Ichhamati, which flows around 200 kilometres between India and Bangladesh, has suffered severe ecological decline due to siltation, pollution, invasive water hyacinth growth and erosion. Urban centres such as Basirhat, Hasnabad and Taki discharge untreated domestic, agricultural and industrial waste into the river, threatening fisheries and local livelihoods.
The Jalangi, a distributary of the Ganga flowing through Murshidabad and Nadia districts before joining the Bhagirathi-Hooghly system, faces reduced flow caused by changes in the Padma river channel. Rapid siltation has turned parts of the river into a shallow, slow-moving stream that flows significantly only during the monsoon season.
Kalyan Rudra, chairman of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board, said, “Restoring the Ichhamati and Jalangi rivers will be challenging, but with strong political will, concrete measures to improve water flow, control pollution and protect local communities can be implemented. Political commitment is crucial for success.”
Bangladesh Perspective
The restoration project is being closely watched in Bangladesh because of the cross-border impact of the rivers on water systems connected to the Sundarbans delta. On Friday afternoon, State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad visited the T-Bund construction site at Maynapati Char in Debiganj upazila of Panchagarh and spoke to journalists about ongoing river discussions with neighbouring countries.
He said, “We share 54 rivers with India and three rivers with Myanmar. Inter-ministerial meetings have already taken place and discussions are ongoing. I am confident that in a short time you will hear good news. Past issues will be resolved through dialogue and we will not only protect Bangladesh from becoming a desert but transform it into a prosperous land full of water, crops and greenery.”
He added, “The Ganga Agreement is not yet in effect. Its term will end in December. We are reviewing how it can be implemented again and whether additional benefits can be obtained. Our technical teams are also working on the Teesta River.”
Expert and Activist Views
River activists welcomed the initiative but stressed the need for proper implementation. They noted that problems such as encroachment, pollution, waste dumping and uncontrolled growth of aquatic plants continue to threaten both rivers.
Commenting on the project, Sohanur Rahman, executive coordinator of YouthNet Global, said, “Transboundary river restoration requires long-term cooperation and strong environmental safeguards. Rivers like the Ichhamati are shared ecosystems linking India and Bangladesh. Restoring their flow and reducing pollution is essential not only for biodiversity but also for communities who depend on these rivers for livelihoods and climate resilience.”
