News Mania Desk/ Agnibeena Ghosh/25th June 2024
The BJP-led Central government on Monday dismissed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s assertion that the state was not consulted prior to the announcement of renewed talks between India and Bangladesh concerning the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty. Government sources stated that West Bengal was indeed consulted regarding the treaty’s review.
Reports indicated that in April, the joint secretary (works) in West Bengal’s irrigation and waterways department communicated the state’s water demand for the next 30 years from the Farakka Barrage downstream stretch. This was cited by PTI, affirming the state’s involvement.
The Ganga Water Treaty, set to expire in 2026, is likely to be renewed. Last week, after bilateral discussions with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that technical-level talks for the treaty’s renewal would commence.
Mamata Banerjee, in a letter to PM Modi, labeled the decision to begin renewal talks as “unilateral” and urged the Prime Minister not to exclude West Bengal from these discussions. Contrary to Banerjee’s claim, the Centre had sought a nominee from the West Bengal government for the panel conducting an “Internal Review of the India-Bangladesh Treaty of 1996 on Sharing of the Ganga/Ganges Waters at Farakka” on July 24 of the previous year.
In response to this request, West Bengal nominated the chief engineer (design and research) in the irrigation and waterways directorate to the committee in August last year. This nomination was communicated to the Centre, indicating the state’s participation.
However, ANI reported that the Bengal government falsely claimed it was not consulted about the internal review of the treaty. Government sources labeled these claims as misinformation, stating, “False claims spread by the West Bengal Government that they were not consulted on the Internal Review of the India-Bangladesh Treaty of 1996 on Sharing of the Ganga/Ganges Waters at Farakka.”
During a meeting in Howrah with municipal officials, Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of renewing the Farakka Treaty without considering the livelihoods of Bengal’s residents. She criticized the BJP for what she termed a “Bangla Birodhi” (anti-Bengal) mindset.
Banerjee stated, “Without any consideration for the livelihoods of the people of Bengal, PM Narendra Modi is in the process of renewing the India-Bangladesh Farakka Treaty. This is yet another demonstration of the @BJP4India-led Centre’s Bangla-Birodhi mindset.”
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra confirmed that a joint technical committee from both countries would begin discussions on renewing the Ganges water-sharing treaty. He also mentioned that “conservation and management of the Teesta River” would be undertaken in Bangladesh with suitable assistance from India.
The Farakka Agreement, signed in 1996, outlines the sharing of the Ganga River waters at the Farakka Barrage, a dam located on the Bhagirathi River about 10 kilometers from the Bangladesh border. The treaty has significant implications for both nations, particularly in managing water resources and ensuring equitable distribution.
This ongoing dialogue and subsequent decisions are crucial for maintaining the balance between developmental needs and ecological sustainability in the region. The involvement of all stakeholders, including state governments like West Bengal, is essential for the treaty’s successful renewal and implementation.
