In a landmark deal to be signed between India and Bangladesh the planned Teesta water-sharing treaty will see Bangladesh get 25 percent water. The deal is expected to be sealed when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits Dhaka on Sept 6-7. Originating from So Lomo lake in Sikkim, the river Teesta has entered Bangladesh through Jalpaiguri and mixed up with the Brahmaputra after flowing 124 kilometres in Bangladesh. Around 20,000 Cusec water is likely to flow through Teesta in Bangladesh. But the country alleges that only 400 Cusec water is received during the dry season. India agreed to observe the flow of water near Bazaldoba dam to share water scientifically in a bid to end the debate.In a recent meeting National security advisor Shiv Shankar Menon told that India will get 75 percent of the Teesta water and Bangladesh will get the remainder,” BBC Bangla said quoting Lokshobha member from West Bengal Abu Hasem Khan Chowdhury.Referring to the meeting of Menon and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Kolkata-based daily Anandabazar reported that the water of Teesta would be shared by measuring the amount of water flowed through Gazaldoba point, 25 kilometres away from Siliguri, India.
“India will take 52 percent and Bangladesh 48 percent after preserving 460 Cusec (cubic feet per second) Teesta water.”Chowdhury told the BBC Bangla that though the Ganges Treaty had depicted the measurement of water to be shared, the final draft on Teesta says “water will be shared 75-25 considering the amount available in the river”.The newspaper had also said the details of the deal would be finalised in prime minister-level meeting. “But initially, it was said that a 15-year deal based on the 52-48 percent sharing on an interim basis will be signed. A long-term deal will be signed after observing the flow of water later,” it said.
The two countries agreed to take 60 Cusec water from the river Feni, the report said. India had proposed to lift 70 Cusec water from the river but Bangladesh had opposed the plan, it added.“Mamata was anxious about some issues of the draft. She did not want that the deal would harm her state’s interest in any
way,” the Anandabazar report said.The vernacular newspaper also said that Mamata cleared the draft when Menon removed her anxieties at a meeting.Menon visited Dhaka on Aug 28-29 to finalise Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Dhaka visit plan. Mamata and chief ministers of four other Indian states bordering Bangladesh are due to accompany Singh during the Sept 6-7 visit.Menon told Mamata at the meeting that the people of Bangladesh were very much excited to see her, Anandabazar said.
Mamata said she had a long-term relation with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “The relationship had not been harmed even when she was not in power,” the newspaper quoted Mamata as saying.
The issue of water sharing was also discussed at the central cabinet meeting where Singh, water resources minister Pawan Bansal, home minister P Chidambaram and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, among others, were present.Anandabazar reported that Bansal would visit Dhaka on Sept 3. The draft of the water sharing deal would be recognised by a Joint River Commission meeting during the visit, it added.
“Manmohan along with Mamata will announce the final deal in Dhaka on Sept 6,” the newspaper said.
Bangladesh had signed a deal with India to share water of the river Ganges in 1996, during then the Awami League government. The two countries share 54 rivers. The river commissions have been trying to resolve the problem over sharing water of these rivers.The Teesta Dam Project is the largest irrigation project in the eastern zone of India.
“India will take 52 percent and Bangladesh 48 percent after preserving 460 Cusec (cubic feet per second) Teesta water.”Chowdhury told the BBC Bangla that though the Ganges Treaty had depicted the measurement of water to be shared, the final draft on Teesta says “water will be shared 75-25 considering the amount available in the river”.The newspaper had also said the details of the deal would be finalised in prime minister-level meeting. “But initially, it was said that a 15-year deal based on the 52-48 percent sharing on an interim basis will be signed. A long-term deal will be signed after observing the flow of water later,” it said.
The two countries agreed to take 60 Cusec water from the river Feni, the report said. India had proposed to lift 70 Cusec water from the river but Bangladesh had opposed the plan, it added.“Mamata was anxious about some issues of the draft. She did not want that the deal would harm her state’s interest in any
way,” the Anandabazar report said.The vernacular newspaper also said that Mamata cleared the draft when Menon removed her anxieties at a meeting.Menon visited Dhaka on Aug 28-29 to finalise Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Dhaka visit plan. Mamata and chief ministers of four other Indian states bordering Bangladesh are due to accompany Singh during the Sept 6-7 visit.Menon told Mamata at the meeting that the people of Bangladesh were very much excited to see her, Anandabazar said.
Mamata said she had a long-term relation with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “The relationship had not been harmed even when she was not in power,” the newspaper quoted Mamata as saying.
The issue of water sharing was also discussed at the central cabinet meeting where Singh, water resources minister Pawan Bansal, home minister P Chidambaram and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, among others, were present.Anandabazar reported that Bansal would visit Dhaka on Sept 3. The draft of the water sharing deal would be recognised by a Joint River Commission meeting during the visit, it added.
“Manmohan along with Mamata will announce the final deal in Dhaka on Sept 6,” the newspaper said.
Bangladesh had signed a deal with India to share water of the river Ganges in 1996, during then the Awami League government. The two countries share 54 rivers. The river commissions have been trying to resolve the problem over sharing water of these rivers.The Teesta Dam Project is the largest irrigation project in the eastern zone of India.
Courtesy-Sikkim Mail
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