India, Sept. 7 -- As India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Sharing Treaty approaches its expiry, Bihar faces a crucial moment in its long-running struggle over water. The state bears the consequences of upstream extraction and downstream obligations at Farakka, yet has had little say in decisions that directly affect its agriculture, and livelihoods

The Ganga is not merely a 2,525-kilometer-long ecological lifeline; it is also the epicentre of a deepening hydro-political conflict within Indian federalism. In Bihar, the Ganga spans a length of approximately 16,205 square kilometers, with nearly 80 percent of the state's geographical region falling under the Ganga River plains or its sub-basins. While Bihar's internal tributaries contribute over 50...