The West Bengal government was informed about the Centre's discussions with Bangladesh regarding Teesta water sharing and the Farakka Treaty, government sources told India Today TV.
Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and objected to unilateral discussions with Bangladesh on the water treaties.
In her letter to PM Modi, she said, "People of West Bengal will be the worst sufferers due to the impact of such agreements.
I came to understand that Government of India is in the process of renewing the Indo Bangladesh Farakka Treaty (1996) which is to expire in 2026.
Under the treaty, the upper riparian India and lower riparian Bangladesh agreed to share the water of this river at Farakka, a dam on Bhagirathi river around 10 kms from Bangladesh border.
The West Bengal government was informed about the Centre's discussions with Bangladesh regarding Teesta water sharing and the Farakka Treaty, government sources told India Today TV.
Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and objected to unilateral discussions with Bangladesh on the water treaties.
According to government sources, the Centre wrote to the Bengal government on July 24, 2023, and sought their nominee in the committee for carrying out an internal review of the 1996 treaty between India and Bangladesh on water sharing at Farakka.
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On August 25 the same year, the Bengal government conveyed the nomination of state's Chief Engineer (Design and Research), Irrigation and Waterways for the committee.
On April 5 this year, the Bengal government's Joint Secretary (Works, Irrigation & Waterways Department) conveyed their total demand for the next 30 years from the stretch of downstream of Farakka Barrage.
Mamata Banerjee has long opposed the water-sharing pact with Bangladesh, blaming the Farakka barrage for erosion, siltation, and floods in Bengal.
In her letter to PM Modi, she said, "People of West Bengal will be the worst sufferers due to the impact of such agreements. I came to understand that Government of India is in the process of renewing the Indo Bangladesh Farakka Treaty (1996) which is to expire in 2026. It is a Treaty which delineates the principles of sharing of water between Bangladesh and India and as you are aware it has huge implications for the people of West Bengal for maintaining their livelihood and that the water which is diverted at the Farakka Barrage helps in maintaining the navigability of the Kolkata port."
In the recently held bilateral meeting between PM Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, the two leaders discussed the conservation and management of the River Teesta and the renewal of the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty.
According to the pact, India is set to build a large reservoir and related infrastructure to manage and conserve Teesta water.
The Farakka Agreement between Bangladesh and India on sharing of the waters of River Ganga ends in 2026. Under the treaty, the upper riparian India and lower riparian Bangladesh agreed to share the water of this river at Farakka, a dam on Bhagirathi river around 10 kms from Bangladesh border.
Published By: Rishabh Sharma Published On: Jun 24, 2024
