NEW DELHI, Sept. 3 -- The Union ministry of external affairs has said that any decision on the Ganga Water Treaty, also known as the Farakka Treaty, will be taken keeping in view Bihar's drinking water needs, said people aware of the details. The assurance comes in the wake of the Janata Dal (United), an ally of the ruling National Democratic Alliance, demanding that the government should not renew the treaty that was signed in 1996 between India and Bangladesh over the sharing of Ganga Water.

In response to the demand put forth by Sanjay Jha, Rajya Sabha MP and the national working president of the JDU, Dr S Jaishankar, minister for external affairs, has said the decision on the renewal of the treaty will be taken after considering the ...