[🇧🇩] India's Water Terrorism Against Bangladesh

[Saif]

India should have no role to play in Teesta development plan

INDIA’S announcement to send a technical team to Bangladesh to discuss the conservation and management of the River Teesta appears farcical. India, which has since 2010 put on hold the signing of an agreement on the sharing of the water of the cross-border Teesta...

www.newagebd.net

India should have no role to play in Teesta development plan
24 June, 2024, 00:00

INDIA'S announcement to send a technical team to Bangladesh to discuss the conservation and management of the River Teesta appears farcical. India, which has since 2010 put on hold the signing of an agreement on the sharing of the water of the cross-border Teesta, has expressed its willingness to support a large-scale development plan on the management of the river in Bangladesh's north. This is not the first time India has so done. New Delhi in the first week of May also offered to finance the project for a comprehensive management and the restoration of the river after China had showed interest in it and carried out a survey. What is farcical about this is that the absence of an agreement on the Teesta water sharing with India leaves five districts in Bangladesh — Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Rangpur through which the river flows — dry in the lean season, adding to the risk of desertification, because of the unilateral withdrawal of water upstream. The situation also leaves the region frequently inundated in the monsoon season as India opens all floodgates, often without any intimation. India, which is at the heart of the problem, should, therefore, have no role to play in it.

The agreement on the sharing of Teesta water with India was put into the final form in 2010, with both the sides agreeing a 50:50 sharing formula provisioning for 20 per cent of the water as the environmental flow. But India backtracked on the signing of the agreement hours before India's prime minister of the time arrived in Dhaka on September 6, 2011. And, having left the signing of the agreement in the lurch for so many years that has added to the risk of desertification in Bangladesh's north, New Delhi in early May conveyed its willingness to finance the development plan involving the Teesta when India's external affairs minister called on Bangladesh's foreign minister in Dhaka. And now, India, described as a 'trusted friend' and 'regional partner', has offered to send a technical team to discuss the project to resolve the problem that India has caused for Bangladesh by withholding the signing of the agreement and by withdrawing water upstream unilaterally. Now when Bangladesh's prime minister visited India in June 21–22, New Delhi signed 10 memorandums of understanding, seven new and three renewed, most of which appear to benefit India more but set aside the signing of the Teesta water sharing agreement. Dhaka should not entertain any proposal of New Delhi involving the Teesta development plan meant to improve the socio-economic condition in Bangladesh's north by, among others, setting up economic growth points, preventing flooding, dredging the river bed and constructing dams and reservoirs in the catchment area. India had rather sign the Teesta water sharing agreement.

India having been at the heart of the problem of the life and livelihood that have for long been at stake around the River Teesta and the region, this is no wise that India should have any involvement in the project meant to stem the decline caused by India's unilateral withdrawal and sudden release of the water upstream.​

 

[Saif]

‘Not feasible to share Teesta water’

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday said no discussion on sharing the Teesta and Ganges waters should be held with Bangladesh without the involvement of the West Bengal government.

www.thedailystar.net

'Not feasible to share Teesta water'

Mamata writes to Modi, also asks not to hold talks on Teesta, Farakka without involving West Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday said no discussion on sharing the Teesta and Ganges waters should be held with Bangladesh without the involvement of the West Bengal government.

Sharing Teesta water with Bangladesh is not feasible, she wrote in a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The interest of people in West Bengal is paramount which should not be compromised at any cost," she wrote.

If Teesta water is shared with Bangladesh, "lakhs of people in North Bengal will get severely impacted due to inadequate availability of irrigation water".

Teesta water is also needed for meeting drinking water requirements of the residents of North Bengal, she said.

She wrote the letter a couple of days after prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi held talks in New Delhi where the Indian PM announced a technical team would be sent to Bangladesh soon for conservation and management of water in the Teesta and discussions would soon start on the renewal of the 1996 Ganges water-sharing treaty which expires in 2026.

Mamata also stated that West Bengal shares "a very close relationship with Bangladesh geographically, culturally and economically. I love and respect people of Bangladesh and always wish for their well-being".

"However, water is very precious and is the lifeline of the people. 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."

In the letter signed yesterday, the West Bengal chief minister also said, "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."

"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 said.

The letter ended with her strong reservation saying that no discussion on sharing of "Teesta water and the Farakka Treaty should be taken up with Bangladesh without the involvement of [West Bengal] state government".

She hoped that the Indian prime minister would take action accordingly.

Teesta water is crucial for irrigation in the northern part of Bangladesh, especially between December and April.

The river resembles a narrow canal in Bangladesh in lean season.

India in 1983 built the Gajoldoba barrage on the Teesta 70km upstream of Bangladesh's Lalmonirhat and started diverting Teesta water.

In 2011, Bangladesh and India finalised the Teesta water-sharing agreement but it was not signed as Mamata opposed it.

During the Indian PM's Dhaka visit in 2021, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi directed their respective water resources ministries to work towards an early conclusion of the Framework of Interim Agreement on sharing waters of six common rivers.

Three years have gone by, but the framework has not seen the light of day.​

 

[Saif]

The Teesta conservation and restoration project is the brainchild of China. So, I think it is better to award the contract to China because they have spent a good amount of money to do the physical survey on Teesta river. They have firsthand experience in implementing such project in their own country. India, however, does not have the technology to implement such project.

‘Will implement Teesta project with help from India’

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government will implement the Teesta project with assistance from India and it has got assurances from the neighbouring country in this regard.

www.thedailystar.net

'Will implement Teesta project with help from India'
Says PM, sees nothing wrong in maintaining ties with both India, China

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government will implement the Teesta project with assistance from India and it has got assurances from the neighbouring country in this regard.

As Bangladesh has a longstanding issue with India over the sharing of Teesta waters, it would be easy for Dhaka if the Teesta project is implemented by Delhi, she said.

"As India has come forward, we think if we implement the Teesta project with India, we will not have to face problems regarding water every day. We will have that benefit," she said.

The premier was addressing a press conference at the Gono Bhaban yesterday to brief the media about the outcome of her June 21-22 state visit to India, report BSS and UNB.

Responding to a query from a journalist, the premier, however, said her government will accept either a Chinese or an Indian proposal for the Teesta Master Plan Project considering which one would be the most beneficial for the country.

"We have taken up the Teesta project. China and India have put forward separate proposals to implement the project.

"But we must consider which proposal will be beneficial for the people, how much loan we will take and how much we will have to repay after the completion of the project, and also the capability of repaying the loan," Hasina continued.

China has completed a physical survey on the Teesta project while India wants to carry out another one, she said.

The PM said India has expressed its willingness to send a technical team to Bangladesh in this regard and Bangladesh will sit with the team.

"We will accept that survey which would be more suitable and beneficial for us."

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

What about decommissioning Farakka Barrage?

The Farakka Barrage on the mighty river Ganges was commissioned on April 21, 1975 on a trial basis. And with its commissioning, a large section of people of Bangladesh became mistrustful of India, which had strongly supported the independence war of Bangladesh and made huge sacrifices. The main re

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

What about decommissioning Farakka Barrage?
MIR MOSTAFIZUR RAHAMAN
Published :
Jun 26, 2024 21:49
Updated :
Jun 26, 2024 21:49

The Farakka Barrage on the mighty river Ganges was commissioned on April 21, 1975 on a trial basis. And with its commissioning, a large section of people of Bangladesh became mistrustful of India, which had strongly supported the independence war of Bangladesh and made huge sacrifices.

The main reason for mistrust is the adverse effect of Farakka Barrage on the economy of Bangladesh that is largely dependent on agriculture for its sustenance. But the irony is that after 20 years of its commissioning, people for whom the barrage was constructed, are now raising voice against it. Located in West Bengal, India, the Farakka Barrage is roughly 16.5km away from the Bangladesh border.

The purpose of the barrage was to ensure navigability of the Kolkata Port by flushing out silt by discharging water at the rate of 1800 cubic meter per second from the Hooghly River. After commissioning the project, Indian experts said that it was observed that the diverted water flow from the Farakka Barrage was not enough for the purpose.Eventually, it was found that the water diverted from the barrage is less than 10 per cent of the water of the Ganges river available at Farakka.

Against this backdrop, the chief minister of the West Bengal, Mamara Banarjee has publicly questioned the necessity of the Farakka Barrage. A couple of days ago, she wrote a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wherein she had drawn a vivid picture of the negative impact of the Farakka Barrage on the people and their livelihoods in West Bengal.

"In fact, the genesis of construction of Farakka Barrage project is the disconnection of Bhagirathi from the Ganges. 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" the West Bengal chief minister wrote in her letter.

"This has accentuated erosion by the rivers and the areas both in the upstream and downstream of the barrage have faced serious loss of life and property including public infrastructure such as schools, hospitals; health centres, power lines in the past. Lakhs of people have been displaced from their habitation rendering them homeless and also leading to their loss of livelihood. The reduced silt load in Hooghly has impeded the nourishment of Sundarban delta" she explained.

People of Bangladesh believe that Farakka Barrage, built across the Ganges is the key reason for drying up of many rivers in their country, including the Padma near Rajshahi. Experts said the barrage is not a problem for Bangladesh alone, it also poses a problem for the people who live in its vicinity in India. In fact, Farrakka project is a vivid example of how development projects have been undertaken without thinking about the lives of people living near the river. The rivers of Bangladesh are dying. The sweet water content inside the rivers has diminished, and there has been a steady rise in salinity.

Built to revive the Kolkata port, it is now blamed for reducing water flow, increasing salinity and drying up the waters around the Sundarbans.

Mamata Banerjee raised the issue in reference to the recent Hasina-Modi meeting, which decided to renew the Ganges Water Sharing treaty, which is to expire in 2026. She made it clear that without her consent the proposed renewal would not be acceptable. And it is more or less clear that she may not accept a deal without a solution of the crisis triggered by the Farakka Barrage.

Under the prevailing circumstances, questions are being raised by many whether decommissioning of the Farakka Barrage could be a solution to the problem. One will have to wait and see what transpires finally.​

 

[Bilal9]

‘Not feasible to share Teesta water’

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday said no discussion on sharing the Teesta and Ganges waters should be held with Bangladesh without the involvement of the West Bengal government.

www.thedailystar.net

'Not feasible to share Teesta water'
View attachment 6583

Mamata writes to Modi, also asks not to hold talks on Teesta, Farakka without involving West Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday said no discussion on sharing the Teesta and Ganges waters should be held with Bangladesh without the involvement of the West Bengal government.

Sharing Teesta water with Bangladesh is not feasible, she wrote in a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The interest of people in West Bengal is paramount which should not be compromised at any cost," she wrote.

If Teesta water is shared with Bangladesh, "lakhs of people in North Bengal will get severely impacted due to inadequate availability of irrigation water".

Teesta water is also needed for meeting drinking water requirements of the residents of North Bengal, she said.

She wrote the letter a couple of days after prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi held talks in New Delhi where the Indian PM announced a technical team would be sent to Bangladesh soon for conservation and management of water in the Teesta and discussions would soon start on the renewal of the 1996 Ganges water-sharing treaty which expires in 2026.

Mamata also stated that West Bengal shares "a very close relationship with Bangladesh geographically, culturally and economically. I love and respect people of Bangladesh and always wish for their well-being".

"However, water is very precious and is the lifeline of the people. 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."

In the letter signed yesterday, the West Bengal chief minister also said, "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."

"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 said.

The letter ended with her strong reservation saying that no discussion on sharing of "Teesta water and the Farakka Treaty should be taken up with Bangladesh without the involvement of [West Bengal] state government".

She hoped that the Indian prime minister would take action accordingly.

Teesta water is crucial for irrigation in the northern part of Bangladesh, especially between December and April.

The river resembles a narrow canal in Bangladesh in lean season.

India in 1983 built the Gajoldoba barrage on the Teesta 70km upstream of Bangladesh's Lalmonirhat and started diverting Teesta water.

In 2011, Bangladesh and India finalised the Teesta water-sharing agreement but it was not signed as Mamata opposed it.

During the Indian PM's Dhaka visit in 2021, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi directed their respective water resources ministries to work towards an early conclusion of the Framework of Interim Agreement on sharing waters of six common rivers.

Three years have gone by, but the framework has not seen the light of day.​

I don't know why we are even wasting time dealing with two bit elements and their barking, as if they matter. Signing an agreement for Teesta with the Chinese was needed yesterday. Forge ahead and let's get it done already....