In a meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured her of starting technical talks for renewing the Ganga-Tista water sharing treaty signed in 1996. But within 24 hours, the ruling Trinamool leadership targeted the central government of India on this issue, questioning how Modi gave this assurance without discussing it with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The main point of the state is that before any compromise between India and Bangladesh on the distribution of Ganga or Teesta water, the Mamata Banerjee government must be consulted. According to sources, the state government is sending a letter to the Center very soon informing about its stand on Teesta water. In this letter, the state government wants to highlight in detail where West Bengal will have problems in the water distribution of the two rivers with Bangladesh.
What was West Bengal's statement about Ganga-Tista water?
A top official of the West Bengal state administration explained, “Bangladesh is our neighboring country. The relationship between the two Bengals is also very close. But the Center should consult with us before taking any decision on the question of water distribution.”
Trinamool's clear statement on the Ganga Water Sharing Agreement, the renewal of this agreement may increase the risk of flood damage in the state. Not only that, the state government is also one of the partners in this agreement. So it is not right to take such a decision excluding them.
Trinamool Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien on Sunday shared their discontent to the central government on the issue, saying, "The center is taking a decision to renew the Farakka-Ganga treaty without discussing with the West Bengal government. We are also one of the partners in this agreement.”
“We are still not paid what we are due for the previous contract,” complained Derek. “Dredging of the Ganga has stopped. This is the primary reason behind floods and erosion. It’s plan to sell out West Bengal.”
Modi assured Sheikh Hasina on Teesta water on Saturday that India will send a technical team to Bangladesh for conservation and management of Teesta. Quoting the notification of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the media of Bangladesh, it has been claimed that India's interest in cooperating with Bangladesh in the conservation of Teesta has been shown in the meeting. The report also claimed that in that meeting, Bangladesh emphasized on signing the Teesta water distribution agreement as soon as possible by fixing the time.
According to the West Bengal government, the Teesta Canal was planned in the 1970s keeping in mind the use of Teesta Barrage water to facilitate irrigation of 3.42 lakh hectares of land. But according to the latest observations of the Central Water Commission, the water in the Teesta was receded. In this situation, the argument of the state is that if water is shared with Bangladesh, the water in the Teesta canal will decrease during the dry season. About three lakh people of West Bengal will be affected by this.
The drinking water supply in vast areas adjacent to Shiliguri is also dependent on Teesta. In this situation, the West Bengal government feels that it is not possible to provide additional water from the Teesta to Bangladesh in the dry season. The state administration is also raising questions as to why the Center did not speak to the Chief Minister of West Bengal before any discussion with Bangladesh on Teesta.
Bd pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
