Impossible to share Teesta water with Bangladesh: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
Times of India | 30 July 2024
Mamata Banerjee KOLKATA: It was "impossible" to share Teesta water with Bangladesh, CM Mamata Banerjee told the Bengal assembly on Monday, adding that the needs of "Bengal's people should be met" before those of the neighbouring country's.
"The demand to not share Teesta water is for the benefit of Bengal's people. Their needs will have to be met first. It is not that I am ignoring Bangladesh.I have close relations with Bangladesh. I have given what I can. But I will not promise what I cannot give. I am accountable to the people of Bengal, I cannot act selfishly," Banerjee, who wrote to PM Narendra Modi explaining her stand last month, said. The Bengal CM also accused the Modi government of "privatising everything, from the Damodar Valley Corporation to the railways". "The entire country may be privatised," she added.
"Where is the water in Teesta in lean season? North Bengal will suffer from water shortage if we give Teesta water to Bangladesh,," Banerjee said, blaming the Centre for conducting water-sharing discussions with Bangladesh without involving Bengal, which she said disrespected the country's federal character.
She would not allow a unilateral decision on Teesta water-sharing or renewal of the Ganga water-sharing treaty signed in 1996, the CM said.
The Ganga treaty comes up for renewal again in 2026. CM Banerjee also recalled former Bengal CM Jyoti Basu's involvement in river-treaty discussions. "We have strong linguistic and cultural bonds (with Bangladesh). But, as Bengal CM, how can I deprive the people of this state," she asked.
Banerjee also repeated her demand for an Indo-Bhutan River Commission. "The state should be provided with information regularly," she said, highlighting the devastating impact on North Bengal of flash floods from transboundary rivers in Bhutan and Sikkim. "Bihar and Assam received budgetary support for flood mitigation but not Bengal," she said, "saluting the BJP government for its discrimination and apathy towards Bengal". She also criticised the construction of multiple dams in Sikkim without any discussion, which significantly decreased the flow of water downstream.
Banerjee, drawing the assembly's attention to the monsoon situation, expressed concern about the erosion in Manikchak that had damaged National Highway-131 and slammed the maintenance of river banks in the Farakka barrage area. The Bengal CM also blamed the DVC for "man-made floods": "Flood risks can be reduced by timely dredging and increasing the dams' storage capacity."