The Government of West Bengal has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the State Mission for Clean Ganga (SMCG) to prepare a comprehensive masterplan for restoring the Ichhamati and Jalangi river basins.
Both rivers are located in the upper Ganga delta region of West Bengal and are facing serious ecological degradation due to pollution, siltation, declining water flow and erosion.
Key Highlights
| Aspect | Details |
| Project | Restoration of Ichhamati & Jalangi river basins |
| Implementing Agencies | Government of West Bengal, GIZ, SMCG |
| Programme | ‘Nodi Bandhan’ river restoration initiative |
| Budget Allocation | ₹200 crore (2025–26 state budget) |
| Region | Upper Ganga delta in West Bengal |
| Type of Rivers | Transboundary river systems with Bangladesh |
These two rivers are the first among West Bengal’s 39 river sub-basins selected for basin-based restoration planning.
‘Nodi Bandhan’ Project
The West Bengal government announced the ‘Nodi Bandhan’ river restoration project in the 2025–26 state budget.
Key Objectives
- Prepare basin-level masterplans for rivers in the state
- Engage international expert agencies for technical assistance
- Restore ecological health of rivers and improve water management.
The Ichhamati and Jalangi basins are the pilot projects under this initiative.
Role of Partner Organisations
| Organisation | Role |
| Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit | Provides international expertise in sustainable development |
| State Mission for Clean Ganga | State-level implementing agency under the National Mission for Clean Ganga |
| Government of West Bengal | Overall implementation and policy support |
About GIZ
GIZ is a German federal enterprise that works globally in:
- energy transition
- environmental protection
- sustainable economic development.
About SMCG
SMCG functions under the state Urban Development Department and implements projects under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
Scope of River Basin Masterplan
The restoration masterplan will focus on improving the ecological and hydrological conditions of both river basins.
Key Measures
| Focus Area | Intervention |
| Water flow restoration | Dredging and channel management |
| Water diversion | Bringing surplus water from other basins |
| Pollution control | Removal of pollutants and waste |
| Flood management | Flood mitigation measures |
| Soil protection | Riverbank erosion control |
| Groundwater recharge | Improve groundwater replenishment |
| Irrigation support | Ensure better water availability for agriculture |
Ichhamati River
Ichhamati River flows for about 200 km between West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh.
Key Characteristics
| Feature | Details |
| Length | ~200 km |
| Location | North 24 Parganas district |
| International Role | Forms part of the India–Bangladesh border |
Major Issues
- Severe siltation
- Water hyacinth infestation
- Pollution from nearby towns
- Riverbank erosion
- Reduced sediment flow to Sundarbans.
Nearby urban centres such as Basirhat, Hasnabad and Taki discharge untreated domestic, agricultural and industrial waste into the river.
This pollution includes:
- plastic waste
- nutrient runoff causing eutrophication.
The river water, once drinkable, is now unsafe even for bathing.
Jalangi River
Jalangi River is a distributary of the Ganga.
River Course
- Originates from the Padma River
- Flows through Murshidabad and Nadia districts
- Finally merges with the Bhagirathi Hooghly River.
Major Environmental Problems
- Heavy municipal sewage pollution in Krishnanagar
- Industrial effluents
- Severe siltation reducing water flow
- Riverbank erosion
- Presence of heavy metals such as nickel and iron.
Importance of Ichhamati & Jalangi Rivers
Both rivers are transboundary waterways between India and Bangladesh and play an important role in:
- irrigation
- fisheries
- biodiversity conservation
- local livelihoods
- sediment supply to the Sundarbans delta ecosystem.
Causes of River Degradation
Experts identify several factors responsible for the decline of these river systems.
Hydrological Changes
- Shifting of the Padma river channel
- Reduced inflow from the Ganga
- Rapid silt deposition at river offtake points.
Environmental Impacts
| Problem | Effect |
| Reduced flow | Rivers become shallow and stagnant |
| Siltation | Loss of navigability |
| Pollution | Decline in water quality |
| Erosion | Loss of agricultural land |
In some areas, the rivers now behave like slow-moving streams except during the monsoon.
Transboundary Concerns
Some experts have raised concerns about polluted water entering from Bangladesh, further deteriorating water quality.
If degradation continues:
- the river channels could become abandoned or dead channels
- local ecosystems and fisheries may collapse
- irrigation water supply may decline.
Implementation Challenges
The project faces several technical challenges:
- Declining Ganga water flow in the upper delta region.
- Severe siltation and sediment deposition.
- Managing transboundary river dynamics with Bangladesh.
The restoration plan is linked with the Upper Ganga Delta Project, which is being developed with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Significance of Initiative
The masterplan aims to:
- Restore ecological health of two major transboundary rivers
- Protect livelihoods dependent on fisheries and agriculture
- Improve irrigation and flood management
- Sustain sediment flow to the Sundarbans delta
- Promote integrated river basin management.