Mamata slams Modi in letter over Teesta, Farakka talks with Bangladesh

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed strong objections to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the ongoing Teesta and Farakka river talks with Bangladesh, conducted without her involvement. 

Banerjee's reservations were outlined in a letter sent to Modi on Monday, a copy of which was obtained by Dhaka Tribune.

The letter follows Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recent visit to India, during which both nations agreed to collaborate on the conservation of the Teesta River and the renewal of the Farakka water-sharing treaty, set to expire in 2026.

Highlighting the historical and strategic relationship between Kolkata and Dhaka, Mamata criticized the central government for excluding the West Bengal state government from these critical discussions. 

"Such unilateral deliberations and discussions without consultation and the opinion of the state government are neither acceptable nor desirable," Mamata wrote.

During the bilateral meeting between Modi and Hasina, the leaders discussed the management and conservation of the Teesta River and the renewal of the 1996 Ganges Water Treaty. 

Modi announced that a technical team would visit Bangladesh to further these discussions.

India plans to construct a large reservoir and related infrastructure to manage Teesta's water.  However, this proposal has met with staunch opposition from Mamata, who has long resisted water-sharing agreements, citing the negative impacts of the Farakka Barrage, including erosion, siltation, and flooding in West Bengal."People of West Bengal will be the worst sufferers due to the impact of such agreements. I came to understand that the Government of India is in the process of renewing the Indo Bangladesh Farakka Treaty (1996) which is to expire in 2026. 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 the water which is diverted at the Farakka Barrage helps in maintaining the navigability of Kolkata port," she said in the letter to Modi.

Source: INDIA TODAY