Editing Ganges (section)

==History==
The first European traveller to mention the Ganges was the Greek envoy [[Megasthenes]] (ca. 350–290 BCE). He did so several times in his work [[Indica (Megasthenes)|Indica]]: "India, again, possesses many rivers both large and navigable, which, having their sources in the mountains which stretch along the northern frontier, traverse the level country, and not a few of these, after uniting with each other, fall into the river called the Ganges. Now this river, which at its source is 30&nbsp;[[Stadion (unit)|stadia]] broad, flows from north to south, and empties its waters into the ocean forming the eastern boundary of the [[Gangaridai]], a nation which possesses a vast force of the largest-sized elephants." (Diodorus II.37).<ref>{{cite journal | title=Alexander and the Ganges| author=W. W. Tarn| journal=The Journal of Hellenic Studies| year=1923| volume=43 | issue = 2 | pages=93–101| jstor=625798| doi=10.2307/625798| s2cid=164111602}}</ref>

In 1951 a [[Sharing the water of the Ganges|water sharing dispute]] arose between India and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) after India declared its intention to build the Farakka Barrage. The original purpose of the barrage, which was completed in 1975, was to divert up to {{convert|1100|m3/s|abbr=on}} of water from the Ganges to the Bhagirathi-Hooghly distributary to restore navigability at the [[Port of Kolkata]]. It was assumed that during the worst dry season the Ganges flow would be around {{convert|1400|to|1600|m3/s|abbr=on}}, thus leaving {{convert|280|to|420|m3/s|abbr=on}} for the then East Pakistan.{{sfn|Salman|Uprety|2002|pp=136–137}} East Pakistan objected and a protracted dispute ensued. In 1996 a 30-year treaty was signed with Bangladesh. The terms of the agreement are complicated, but in essence, they state that if the Ganges flow at Farakka was less than {{convert|2000|m3/s|abbr=on}} then India and Bangladesh would each receive 50% of the water, with each receiving at least {{convert|1000|m3/s|abbr=on}} for alternating ten-day periods. However, within a year the flow at Farakka fell to levels far below the historic average, making it impossible to implement the guaranteed sharing of water. In March 1997, flow of the Ganges in Bangladesh dropped to its lowest ever, {{convert|180|m3/s|abbr=on}}. Dry season flows returned to normal levels in the years following, but efforts were made to address the problem. One plan is for another barrage to be built in Bangladesh at [[Pangsha Upazila|Pangsha]], west of [[Dhaka]]. This barrage would help Bangladesh better utilize its share of the waters of the Ganges.{{efn|1={{harvtxt|Salman|Uprety|2002|pp=172, 178–187, 387–391}}<br />Treaty Between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on Sharing of the Ganges/Ganga Waters at Farakka.
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