West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing concerns over the talks on water sharing between India and Bangladesh.
"I am writing this letter in context of the recent visit of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. It seems that water sharing issues relating to the Ganges and Teesta rivers may have been discussed during the meeting. Such unilateral deliberations and discussions without consultation and the opinion of the state government is neither acceptable nor desirable," she said in her letter.
Prime Minister Modi on Saturday announced India and Bangladesh will begin technical-level talks for the renewal of the 1996 Ganga water treaty, and an Indian technical team will visit Bangladesh soon for the conservation and management of the Teesta river.
An India-Bangladesh Shared Vision document, released after Modi and Hasina held delegation-level talks during the latter's visit to New Delhi, said both sides welcome the formation of a Joint Technical Committee to initiate discussions for the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty of 1996.
Earlier, the Trinamool Congress criticised the Centre for not consulting the state before taking the decision to start negotiations with Bangladesh for the renewal of the treaty.
TMC's Parliamentary Party Leader in Rajya Sabha, Derek O'Brien, said the state is a party to the treaty, but was not consulted.
"Dredging of the Ganga has been stopped. It is the primary reason for floods and erosion. This is a plan to sell off Bengal," he alleged.
What is Ganges Water Treaty
India and Bangladesh signed the Ganges Water Treaty in 1996. The 30-year treaty is due to expire in 2026 but may be extended by mutual agreement. Under the treaty, the upper riparian India and lower riparian Bangladesh agreed to share the water of this transboundary river at Farakka, a dam on Bhagirathi river around 10 kms from Bangladesh border.
States’ concerns
West Bengal and Bihar had objected to the treaty, saying Farakka barrage was the primary reason for erosion, siltation, and floods in the states. In February 2022, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had written to Prime Minister Modi expressing concern over the continuous erosion along the Ganga in Malda, Murshidabad and Nadia districts.
Bihar has blamed the Farakka barrage for increased siltation on several occasions. In 2016, at a meeting chaired by PM Modi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had demanded removal of Farakka barrage on river Ganga saying it has more disadvantages than benefits.
With PTI inputs
