Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Sanjay Jha Demands Bihar Water Share Before Farakka Treaty Renewal
Sanjay Jha says Bihar should receive a guaranteed share of water before the Farakka Treaty is extended.
He says water that should be available to Bihar flows downstream to Bangladesh.
He also connects this issue to Bihar’s repeated floods.
The treaty is scheduled to end on December 12.
Jha says it should not be renewed without deciding Bihar’s share.
He claimed former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral was persuaded to sign the agreement after being promised a Nobel Prize.
Jha said the Bihar government is helping people affected by floods.
He also criticized Opposition leaders for their earlier handling of flood problems.
Separately, he said he respected feelings about renaming Bakhtiyarpur but noted that Nitish Kumar had not generally supported renaming places.
JD-U leader Sanjay Jha called the Farakka Treaty a major issue for Bihar.
Jha said the treaty should not be renewed unless Bihar’s water share is determined.
He linked water flowing downstream to Bangladesh with Bihar’s recurring flood situation.
The treaty is scheduled to expire on December 12, according to Jha.
Jha said Bihar’s government is providing relief while criticizing the Opposition’s record on floods.
- Who
- Sanjay Jha, the Janata Dal-United National Working President, and the Bihar government are central to the statement.
- What
- Jha demanded that Bihar’s water share be determined before the Farakka Treaty is extended.
- When
- Jha made the remarks on Thursday; he said the treaty is scheduled to expire on December 12.
- Where
- The dispute concerns Bihar, downstream water flows toward Bangladesh, and the Farakka Treaty.
- Why
- Jha said Bihar’s interests and recurring flood concerns require a guaranteed water share before renewal.
Criticism And Demands
Government Defense
Flood assistance
Criticism And Demands
Tejashwi Yadav demanded special central assistance for Bihar’s flood situation, while Jha criticized the Opposition’s record in office.
Government Defense
Jha said the Bihar government was taking all possible measures to support flood-affected residents and closely monitoring conditions.
Renaming Bakhtiyarpur
Criticism And Demands
Supporters of renaming Bakhtiyarpur as Nitishpur are described as expressing sentiments linked to former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Government Defense
Jha said Nitish Kumar had generally preferred not to rename places and to let his work speak for him; Jha also said his own view was personal.
- Speaker
- Sanjay Jha, Janata Dal-United National Working President
- Treaty
- Farakka Treaty
- Scheduled expiry
- December 12
- Main demand
- Determine Bihar’s rightful water share before any extension
- Flood link
- Jha connected downstream water flows with Bihar’s recurring floods
- Government position
- Jha said Bihar’s government and administration were monitoring floods and providing assistance
- Other political issue
- Jha said he personally respected sentiments around potentially renaming Bakhtiyarpur as Nitishpur