In a significant diplomatic maneuver, India has announced its commitment to assist Bangladesh in the conservation and management of the Teesta River, effectively edging over China on the project. The announcement comes during the visit of Bangladesh PM Hasina to Delhi and is seen as a key part of Delhi's development cooperation.

PM Modi, standing alongside Bangladesh PM Hasina at Hyderabad house in New Delhi said, "a technical team will soon visit Bangladesh to discuss conservation and management of the Teesta river in Bangladesh."

Teesta River, which begins from Teesta Khangse glacier in North Sikkim flows through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh where it joins the Brahmaputra. It is an important source of water for irrigation, hydropower generation, and supports diverse ecosystems along its course.&nbsp;

China's interest in the Teesta project had been publicly acknowledged last December when Beijing's ambassador to Dhaka announced China's keenness to support the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project. This move by China had raised strategic security concerns for India, given the sensitive nature of shared water resources and the geopolitical implications of Chinese involvement in the region.

Also watch |&nbsp;Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina in India, visit to boost bilateral partnership

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bangladeshi-pm-sheikh-hasina-in-india-visit-to-boost-bilateral-partnership-734068/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra explained that a technical team has been constituted to "look at Teesta water restoration project", and that "management of shared water resources between the 2 countries is a very crucial matter, sensitive matter and both countries look at it from that principle of common management of shared resources".

Both countries have joint river commission, and this subject has been discussed. India and Bangladesh share 54 common rivers. During Saturday's talks, both sides also announced formation of a Joint Technical Committee to initiate discussions for the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty of 1996.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/what-is-neighbourhood-first-sagar-outlook-foreign-policy-frameworks-at-centre-of-modi-30-inauguration-730111">What is Neighbourhood First, SAGAR outlook? Foreign policy frameworks at centre of Modi 3.0 inauguration</a>

India's announcement to support the Teesta management project comes, even as Delhi has been reaching out to its neighbours with projects. Last week, in Sri Lanka, along with President Ranil Wickramasinghe, EAM Dr S Jaishankar commissioned the maritime rescue coordination centre (MRCC) that helps the country enhance maritime security and safety in the region. The project was established with a USD 6 million grant from India.

In a significant diplomatic maneuver, India has announced its commitment to assist Bangladesh in the conservation and management of the Teesta River, effectively edging over China on the project.

In a significant diplomatic maneuver, India has announced its commitment to assist Bangladesh in the conservation and management of the Teesta River, effectively edging over China on the project. The announcement comes during the visit of Bangladesh PM Hasina to Delhi and is seen as a key part of Delhi's development cooperation. PM Modi, standing alongside Bangladesh PM Hasina at Hyderabad house in New Delhi said, "a technical team will soon visit Bangladesh to discuss conservation and management of the Teesta river in Bangladesh." Teesta River, which begins from Teesta Khangse glacier in North Sikkim flows through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh where it joins the Brahmaputra. It is an important source of water for irrigation, hydropower generation, and supports diverse ecosystems along its course. China's interest in the Teesta project had been publicly acknowledged last December when Beijing's ambassador to Dhaka announced China's keenness to support the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project. This move by China had raised strategic security concerns for India, given the sensitive nature of shared water resources and the geopolitical implications of Chinese involvement in the region. Also watch | Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina in India, visit to boost bilateral partnership × Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra explained that a technical team has been constituted to "look at Teesta water restoration project", and that "management of shared water resources between the 2 countries is a very crucial matter, sensitive matter and both countries look at it from that principle of common management of shared resources". Both countries have joint river commission, and this subject has been discussed. India and Bangladesh share 54 common rivers. During Saturday's talks, both sides also announced formation of a Joint Technical Committee to initiate discussions for the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty of 1996. Also read | What is Neighbourhood First, SAGAR outlook? Foreign policy frameworks at centre of Modi 3.0 inauguration India's announcement to support the Teesta management project comes, even as Delhi has been reaching out to its neighbours with projects. Last week, in Sri Lanka, along with President Ranil Wickramasinghe, EAM Dr S Jaishankar commissioned the maritime rescue coordination centre (MRCC) that helps the country enhance maritime security and safety in the region. The project was established with a USD 6 million grant from India.

India edges past China over Bangladesh's Teesta water management project

India had dispatched foreign secretary Harsh Shringla to Dhaka which had raised eyebrows.&nbsp;According to official accounts,&nbsp;Shringla's visit was meant to strengthen relationship between India and Bangladesh. However, there is the spectre of China over the engagement.

China reportedly wants to fund the construction of a dam on the Teesta river. After meeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, India's foreign secretary held talks with his counterpart in Beijing.

Bangladesh newspapers featured just one story on their front page - the visit by India’s foreign secretary to Dhaka and his interaction with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina hasn’t met any other foreign dignitary in the last four months, neither has foreign secretary Harsh Shringla travelled outside India during the pandemic. So, the sudden meeting was closely watched both in India and Bangladesh.

Sources told WION on Tuesday that the foreign secretary delivered a message from Prime Minister Modi to Sheikh Hasina. India wanted to see how the two sides could take the relationship forward. On Wednesday, Shringla met with his Bangladeshi counterpart as they discussed ways to deepen cooperation in a post-coronavirus world including the possibility to open up an air bubble and priority access to the Oxford vaccine for Bangladesh.

New Delhi’s sudden effort to deepen ties with Dhaka was necessary. Shringla's sudden trip comes in the backdrop of a report which claims that China is ready to invest almost $1 billion in the Teesta river project which is a long-standing sticking point between India and Bangladesh.

Dhaka is demanding a greater share of the Teesta waters, specifically during December and May when the water supply to the fields of northern Bangladesh tends to dry up.

India and Bangladesh have failed to reach an agreement so far. The engagement this week signals a push as reports say&nbsp;India and Bangladesh have discussed a two-year roadmap for bilateral ties but both sides made no mention of the Teesta project or any other controversial issues.

The threat of the Dragon may have been contained in Bangladesh for now but it is far from over.

India had dispatched foreign secretary Harsh Shringla to Dhaka which had raised eyebrows. According to official accounts, Shringla's visit was meant to strengthen relationship between India and Bangladesh.

India had dispatched foreign secretary Harsh Shringla to Dhaka which had raised eyebrows. According to official accounts, Shringla's visit was meant to strengthen relationship between India and Bangladesh. However, there is the spectre of China over the engagement. China reportedly wants to fund the construction of a dam on the Teesta river. After meeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, India's foreign secretary held talks with his counterpart in Beijing. Bangladesh newspapers featured just one story on their front page - the visit by India’s foreign secretary to Dhaka and his interaction with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina hasn’t met any other foreign dignitary in the last four months, neither has foreign secretary Harsh Shringla travelled outside India during the pandemic. So, the sudden meeting was closely watched both in India and Bangladesh. Sources told WION on Tuesday that the foreign secretary delivered a message from Prime Minister Modi to Sheikh Hasina. India wanted to see how the two sides could take the relationship forward. On Wednesday, Shringla met with his Bangladeshi counterpart as they discussed ways to deepen cooperation in a post-coronavirus world including the possibility to open up an air bubble and priority access to the Oxford vaccine for Bangladesh. New Delhi’s sudden effort to deepen ties with Dhaka was necessary. Shringla's sudden trip comes in the backdrop of a report which claims that China is ready to invest almost $1 billion in the Teesta river project which is a long-standing sticking point between India and Bangladesh. Dhaka is demanding a greater share of the Teesta waters, specifically during December and May when the water supply to the fields of northern Bangladesh tends to dry up. India and Bangladesh have failed to reach an agreement so far. The engagement this week signals a push as reports say India and Bangladesh have discussed a two-year roadmap for bilateral ties but both sides made no mention of the Teesta project or any other controversial issues. The threat of the Dragon may have been contained in Bangladesh for now but it is far from over.

India's foreign secretary Harsh Shringla meets PM Sheikh Hasina as China eyes Teesta project

teesta-water-agreement

Teesta Water Agreement, News on Teesta Water Agreement, stories on Teesta Water Agreement, articles on Teesta Water Agreement, Teesta Water Agreement stories at Wion, Teesta Water Agreement news, Teesta Water Agreement latest news

teesta water-agreement

India edges past China over Bangladesh's Teesta water management project

India's foreign secretary Harsh Shringla meets PM Sheikh Hasina as China eyes Teesta project