Bengal’s Opposition to Teesta River Pact with Bangladesh: Mamata Banerjee

Mamata Banerjee, in a recent address to the assembly, accused the state government of not being included in discussions concerning the sharing of Teesta water between India and Bangladesh. She emphasized that sharing Teesta water would have detrimental effects on northern West Bengal, affecting both drinking water supply and irrigation. Banerjee further highlighted the low water levels in the Teesta River during the winter and summer seasons.

Moreover, Banerjee raised concerns about the renewal of the Farakka treaty, asserting that her state should be considered as a stakeholder due to the flow of the river Ganga from West Bengal into Bangladesh. She had previously communicated her objections to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing discontent over the exclusion of the West Bengal government from discussions related to Teesta water sharing and the Farakka treaty. Banerjee attributed the health deterioration of the Teesta River to various factors, including the construction of hydropower projects in Sikkim, deforestation in the upper catchment, and the impact of climate change.

She emphasized that her government had provided significant support to Bangladesh out of goodwill but stressed the need to safeguard the interests of West Bengal. Accusing the BJP government at the Centre of disregarding the interests of West Bengal, Banerjee highlighted the flooding in Ganga River’s lower catchment areas, particularly affecting districts like Malda, Murshidabad, and Nadia. She lamented the lack of promised funds from the Centre and underscored the extensive efforts made by her government to address erosion issues in the Ganga.

Banerjee asserted that the Centre had overlooked the involvement of the West Bengal government in discussions on water sharing and the Farakka treaty renewal with Bangladesh, labeling this as a blow to federal unity. She contended that the BJP government had neglected to keep the state informed, contrasting this with previous instances where the West Bengal government had been involved in similar matters. She stressed her strong reservations about this development, considering it a departure from established protocols.