Government sources have disclosed that the Centre informed the West Bengal government about its discussions with Bangladesh concerning water treaties, including the Teesta water sharing agreement and the Farakka Treaty. This revelation comes amidst objections from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding what she termed as unilateral discussions on these critical agreements.
According to sources, the Centre sent a communication to the Bengal government on July 24, 2023, requesting their nominee to participate in an internal review committee tasked with evaluating the 1996 water sharing treaty with Bangladesh at Farakka. Responding to this, on August 25 of the same year, the Bengal government nominated its Chief Engineer (Design and Research), Irrigation and Waterways, to represent the state in the committee.
Further developments saw the Bengal government conveying their long-term water demand projections for the next 30 years from downstream of the Farakka Barrage on April 5 this year, underscoring the state’s concerns and requirements in the matter.
Mamata Banerjee, known for her steadfast opposition to the water-sharing agreements with Bangladesh, raised objections in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She expressed concerns about the impact of such agreements on the people of West Bengal, particularly highlighting issues such as erosion, siltation, and floods which she attributes to the Farakka Barrage. The Chief Minister also pointed out the imminent expiry of the Indo-Bangladesh Farakka Treaty in 2026 and emphasized its significant implications for the livelihoods of Bengal’s residents and the navigability of the Kolkata port.
The bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently addressed the conservation and management of the River Teesta, as well as discussions on renewing the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty. Under this treaty, India plans to construct a large reservoir and associated infrastructure to enhance the management and conservation of Teesta’s waters.
The Farakka Agreement, governing the sharing of River Ganga’s waters between Bangladesh and India, is set to expire in 2026. This agreement delineates water sharing principles between the upper riparian India and lower riparian Bangladesh at the Farakka dam on the Bhagirathi river, located approximately 10 kilometers from the Bangladesh border.
As the discussions unfold, the stance of both the Centre and the West Bengal government remains crucial in shaping the future of these critical water agreements and their implications for regional cooperation and environmental management.
