Mamata expresses 'strong reservation' in letter to PM Modi over Teesta talks with Bangladesh

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday (June 24) in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed “strong reservation” over the talks related to water sharing that took place between the Centre and Bangladesh stating that such discussions without the opinion of the state government was neither "acceptable nor desirable".

Mamata's remarks came after Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to Delhi over the weekend when talks around the sharing of Ganga and Teesta waters were held.

“I am writing this letter in the context of the recent visit of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. It seems that water-sharing issues relating to the Ganges and Teesta rivers may have been discussed during the meeting. Such unilateral deliberations and discussions without consultation and the opinion of the state government is neither acceptable nor desirable,” she said in a three-page letter to Modi.

"I came to understand that the Government of India is in the process of renewing the India-Bangladesh Farakka Treaty (1996) which is to expire in 2026. It is a treaty which delineates the sharing of water between Bangladesh and India and as you are aware it has huge implications for the people of West Bengal," Mamata wrote.

She said that water was the lifeline of the people and rejecting the proposal said that the people of her state would not compromise on such a sensitive issue.

“We cannot compromise on such a sensitive issue which has severe and adverse implications for the people. People of West Bengal will be the worst sufferers due to the impact of such agreements.”

The West Bengal CM further said that due to the construction of multiple hydropower projects in Sikkim, and deforestation in Teesta's upper catchment area, the Indian side of the river had suffered too much and now there wasn't enough water to share.

"Due to the reasons stated above, water flow in 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… therefore it is not feasible to share Teesta water with Bangladesh," she added.

Meanwhile, the sources at the centre dismissedMamata's allegations and said thatWest Bengal was consulted on the review of the Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh.

(With inputs from agencies)