Keeping Bengal out of Teesta talks not acceptable: CM Mamata writes to PM Modi

This was Banerjee’s third letter to PM Modi in less than a week. In the first letter, she urged the PM to delay the implementation of three new criminal laws. In the second letter, she called for the abolition of NEET amid allegations of paper leak and irregularities in the entrance exam for medical colleges.

“I came to understand that the Government of India is in the process of renewing the 1996 Indo Bangladesh Farakka Treaty which is to expire in 2026,” she wrote, adding: “It is a treaty, which delineates the principles of sharing of water between Bangladesh and India, and as you are aware it has huge implications for the people of West Bengal for maintaining their livelihood and that the water which is diverted at the Farakka Barrage helps in maintaining the navigability of the Kolkata port.”

“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… It is very pertinent to mention that the flow of silt into Hooghly has also reduced over the years after the barrage was constructed. This has accentuated erosion by the rivers and… serious loss of life and property. Lakhs of people have been displaced… The reduced silt load in Hooghly has impeded the nourishment of Sundarban delta,” the CM stated.

On the ongoing talks with Bangladesh over the Teesta water-sharing agreement, the CM said the treaty would affect the interests of Bengal.

“The health of the Teesta river has suffered from construction of a series of hydropower projects… It seems that, in the meeting, the Government of India has proposed a bilateral cooperation between India and Bangladesh for restoration of Teesta in Bangladesh. I am surprised by the fact that no concrete steps have been taken by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to restore the river in its original form and health on the Indian side,” Banerjee wrote.

“Water flow in the Teesta has gone down over the years and it is estimated that, if any water is shared with Bangladesh, lakhs of people in North Bengal will get severely impacted due to inadequate availability of irrigation water. In addition, Teesta water is needed for meeting drinking water requirement in North Bengal. It is therefore not feasible to share Teesta water with Bangladesh,” she asserted.

Stating that India and Bangladesh share a very close relationship – geographically, culturally and economically, the CM wrote: “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 implications on the people. People of West Bengal will be the worst sufferers due to the impact of such agreements… The interest of people in West Bengal is paramount which should not be compromised at any cost,” she told the Prime Minister.

“We want to have friendship with Bangladesh but that not at the cost of selling the interests of Bengal,” Banerjee said during a meeting with municipal bodies at Nabanna later in the day.

This comes a day after the TMC slammed the Centre for not consulting the state over water sharing talks with Bangladesh. TMC’s Parliamentary Party Leader in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien, said West Bengal is a party to the treaty, but was not consulted.