Teesta talks with Bangladesh without involving West Bengal unacceptable: Mamata
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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banarjee on Monday wrote to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing her firm opposition to the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty and the water sharing of the Teesta River.
Referring to the discussion on water sharing issues relating to the Ganges and Teesta rivers during the recent visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, she alleged that 'such unilateral deliberations and discussions without consultation and the opinion of the state government is neither acceptable nor desirable.'
She also expressed her ‘strong reservation that no discussion on sharing of Teesta water and the Farakka Treaty should be taken up with Bangladesh without the involvement of the state government’.
The interest of people in West Bengal is paramount which should not be compromised at any cost, she added.
She also said that if any water is shared with Bangladesh, lakhs of people in North Bengal will be severely impacted due to the inadequate availability of irrigation water.
“Water is very precious and is the lifeline of the people” the West Bengal Chief Minister said, adding that, “We cannot compromise on such a sensitive issue which has severe and adverse implication on the people. 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.”
However, she affirmed she does share a very close relationship with Bangladesh, geographically, culturally and economically.
“I love and respect people of Bangladesh and always wish for their well-being.”
“I would like to bring to your notice that river morphology has changed in the eastern part of India and Bangladesh over many years which has deprived West Bengal and negatively, impacted the water availability in the state.”
She pointed out that there has been eastward migration of the Ganges (and Padma in Bangladesh) over the last 200 years, disrupting their link with several rivers in West Bengal.
The genesis of the construction of Farakka Barrage Project is the disconnection of Bhagirathi from the Ganges, she said.
“As part of this project, a feeder canal has been constructed to provide at least 40000 cusec for proper functioning of the Kolkata port. It is very pertinent to mention that the flow of silt into Hooghly has also reduced over the years after the barrage was constructed.”
Describing further about the negative impact of the Farakka Barrage, she said this has accentuated erosion by the rivers and the areas both upstream and downstream of the barrage have faced serious loss of life and property, including public infrastructure such as schools, hospitals; health centres, and power lines in the past.
She mentioned that, keeping in view of the likely change in river morphology after the barrage construction, a letter was written by the then Prime Minister Mr Devi Gowda in December, 1996. After signing the Ganges Treaty, Mr Devi Gowda assured the Government of West Bengal that central assistance will be provided for maintenance and capital dredging.
“However, no fund was received from the Government of India on that account.”
On the Teesta she writes, “It seems that sharing of Teesta water between India and Bangladesh have also been discussed in the meeting. The health of Teesta river has suffered from construction of series of hydropower projects in Sikkim, deforestation in upper catchment and impact of climate change.”
“It seems that, in the meeting, Government of India has proposed a bilateral cooperation between India and Bangladesh for restoration of Teesta in Bangladesh. I am surprised by the fact that no concrete steps have been taken by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to restore the river in its original form and health on the Indian side.”