West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has apparently entered into a water war with the central government of India over the renewal of the Teesta water sharing agreement and the Farakka Dam agreement. He indicated the same in the assembly on Monday.
According to media Anandabazar newspaper, the West Bengal Chief Minister has again expressed his anger over the discussion on the Teesta and Ganges water distribution agreement between the Central Government of India and Bangladesh in the Legislative Assembly on Monday.
He said in the assembly, various agreements are being signed and renewed without discussion with West Bengal. I have also given to Bangladesh, but I will decide in the interest of Bengal. He said that the decision regarding the water distribution agreement with Bangladesh should be taken keeping in mind the interests of West Bengal. Mamata said these things in the assembly session on Monday.
The West Bengal Chief Minister said Farakka has renewed the agreement again. The BJP government has unilaterally decided on the Teesta water distribution agreement. Alerts in this regard can be given online. Nothing was done. The Farakka agreement will be renewed in 2026. The committee is being fixed in 2024. The committee being sent has 9 representatives from the center and one from the state.
Regarding Teesta, Mamata said, Sikkim has taken a lot of Teesta water by making 14 hydropowers. Every year Darjeeling, Kalimpong is flooded. If the Teesta is closed, North Bengal will not get drinking water, irrigation water.
He said, Farakka Barrage community is dependent on people’s livelihood. I also gave to Bangladesh. But I will decide in the interest of Bengal. Because people here have elected me. The Center is making advance agreements for its own political interests. Bengali cannot be in any discussion.
Mamata Banerjee said, when there is flood in Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, there is erosion in Malda. Since 2005, 3 thousand 373 hectares of land has been submerged in the river. Erosion is increasing in Ratua, Kaliach. In 1996, the central government negotiated with Jyoti Bose while making this agreement. Later Bangladesh also gave him a welcome. But this time Bengal has been completely left out. Let the center fulfill the responsibility of maintaining the banks of Farakka barrage first. Talk to the state.
Bringing up the issue of Bangladesh-Bhutan rivers, Mamata said that every year North Bengal loses water without Bhutan. The Center agreed to it without informing Bengal. This time, Mamata talked about building India-Bhutan River Commission on the model of India-Bangladesh River Commission. He also made that proposal in the Niti Aayog meeting.
Mamata said, “I have spoken in detail about the Indo-Bhutan River Commission in the Niti Aayog meeting. Bengali is like a boat. All water falls into our state. We have to suffer. I have recorded the matter in the presence of the Prime Minister.
The assembly committee will go to the irrigation ministry to inform the center about the state’s proposal on water. After Mamata’s speech, the speaker of the assembly said that this committee will be formed after discussing with the minister of the assembly. The chief minister asked to send the copy of what was discussed in the assembly to the MPs of the party. He said Trinamool delegation from Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha will go to Delhi on water issue.
Source: Anandabazar newspaper
