West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is wrong to accuse the Centre on water talks with Bangladesh, said sources.
Earlier in the day, Mamata accused the Narendra Modi government of excluding West Bengal from India-Bangladesh talks on Teesta river’s water-sharing and the Farakka Treaty. She made the allegations in a letter to Prime Minister Modi.
“I am writing this letter in context of the recent visit of 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,” said Mamata in the letter, as per PTI.
Now, sources have told Firstpost that Mamata’s allegations are incorrect and proper consultations were held with West Bengal government.
The sources said the Centre on July 24, 2023 sought the West Bengal government’s nominee on the ‘Committee for carrying out an Internal Review of the India-Bangladesh Treaty of 1996 on Sharing of the Ganga/Ganges Waters at Farakka’.
Following the request, on August 25, the West Bengal government informed the Centre that its nominee will be state’s Chief Engineer (Design & Research), Irrigation & Waterways Directorate, as per sources.
Then, on April 5, 2024, the Joint Secretary (Works) of the Irrigation & Waterways Department of the West Bengal government conveyed the total demand for the next 30 years from the stretch of downstream of Farakka Barrage, according to the sources.
Therefore, sources have said that due consultations were held with the West Bengal government and Mamata’s claims are incorrecnt.
In her letter to Modi, Mamata had expressed “strong reservations” against the state’s purported exclusion from the talks.
“I love and respect people of Bangladesh and always wish for their well-being… I convey my 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,” said Mamata.
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