Mamata Banerjee Slams Centre Over India-Bangladesh Treaties, Writes To PM Modi

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday slammed the Centre for excluding her from the discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina.

The bilateral meeting, which focused on water sharing and the conservation of the River Teesta, did not include Banerjee, despite her longstanding opposition to water sharing pacts involving the water body.

Photo Credit: PTI

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

Modi and Hasina discussed the conservation and management of the River Teesta and the renewal of the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty. The PM announced that a technical team would soon visit Bangladesh to further these discussions. The plans include constructing a large reservoir and related infrastructure to manage and conserve Teesta water.

Mamata Banerjee has expressed concerns that such agreements, specifically referencing the Farakka barrage, contribute to 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 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 that the water which is diverted at the Farakka Barrage helps in maintaining the navigability of the Kolkata port," she said in the letter to PM Modi.