News Brief
India-Bangladesh Technical Teams Meet In Kolkata For Crucial Ganga Water Treaty Talks
India and Bangladesh (Representative Image)
A meeting of the technical teams of the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) of India and Bangladesh commenced in Kolkata yesterday (6 March), focusing on the Ganga Water Treaty, which is set for renewal in 2026, reported PTI.
A delegation from Bangladesh arrived in Kolkata on Monday (3 March) morning before travelling to Farakka for a joint observation of the Ganges' water flow.
Members of the commission remained in Farakka until 5 March to assess water levels.
"The meeting between the Indian and Bangladeshi technical teams began this morning. The Bangladesh delegation is led by Muhammad Abul Hossen, a member of the joint rivers commission," an official from the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission was quoted as saying by PTI.
As per West Bengal government officials, the JRC, comprising representatives from the Indian, Bangladeshi, and West Bengal governments, convenes annually to deliberate on cross-boundary river issues.
The 86th meeting of the Joint Committee, mandated by the treaty, and the technical discussions under the India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission Framework are scheduled in Kolkata on 6 and 7 March.
The Bangladeshi delegation also inspected the Farakka Barrage to evaluate the Ganges' water flow into Bangladesh, particularly crucial between January and May, when the river’s discharge is at its lowest.
Following the visit, Hossen noted that while the January water flow was "good", it "decreased" in February. He affirmed that water-sharing was being executed per the 1996 treaty.
The Ganga Water Treaty, signed on 12 December 1996 by then Indian Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, remains vital for West Bengal, ensuring livelihoods along the Ganges' banks and sustaining the navigability of Kolkata Port.
The JRC, established in 1972, manages issues concerning the 54 trans-boundary rivers shared by India and Bangladesh.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has opposed the Teesta water-sharing agreement, is expected to play a pivotal role in discussions on renewing the Ganga Water Treaty.
Last year, she criticised the push to renew the treaty as "unilateral", asserting that the West Bengal government had not been consulted.
However, the Union Government clarified that an internal committee formed in July 2023, including representatives from Bihar and West Bengal, had been actively engaged in discussions.
West Bengal reportedly nominated its representative to this internal committee in August 2023 and participated in three of the committee's four meetings.
