Indian government not interested in Mamata proposal, will work for Teesta deal

The Indian government is not interested in exploring West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's proposal for water sharing of four smaller rivers of North Bengal with Bangladesh.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not formally reacted to Mamata's proposal, but there was no mention of them in the joint communiqué.

A top MEA official told bdnews24.com that these smaller rivers cannot provide Bangladesh the quantum of water needed for the country's northern districts that Dhaka is looking for.

"We have negotiated with Bangladesh for water sharing on Teesta since the 1980s. They have expectations and we finalised the deal in 2011 after taking into account all factors, including West Bengal," the official said, but was not willing to be named.

The official said that Mamata sprung a surprise by offering water sharing of four smaller rivers -- Torsha, Mansai, Jaldhaka and Raidhaka -- but insisted it was not possible to share Teesta waters because it dries up in the lean season.

"Since Teesta flows into Bangladesh and is the biggest river in the north of the Bengal basin, we have to share its waters with Bangladesh. The formula we agreed can be slightly reworked to take care of Bengal's interest, but how can we say this big river is out of water sharing equations," the official insisted.

He said this message has been given to Bangladesh ' to avoid confusion' that Mamata's proposals may create.

An Indian water resources ministry official, also not willing to be named, told bdnews24.com: "We have examined the water sharing deal on Teesta after prolonged negotiations with Bangladesh. The 2011 draft is based on that. We can slightly tweak it but we can't drop it."

The officials said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is determined to go ahead with the Teesta deal, regardless of Mamata's opposition.

"That is why he committed to Sheikh Hasina in presence of Mamata to find a solution to Teesta. That spirit was also reflected in the joint communiqué. There was no mention of Mamata's proposals in that, so we are not looking at them at all. We will work for the Teesta deal," said the MEA official.

The official talks between Bangladesh and India were held on Saturday at New Delhi's 'Hyderabad House'.

The water resources ministry official said Modi has asked them to start working on water sharing in seven other common rivers besides Teesta.

"He wants to address this issue comprehensively and not one river at a time as we have done in the past. The prime minister wants us to address all major rivers so that Bangladesh has no cause for complaint," he said.

"Modi does not want a trusted ally like Bangladesh to be kept waiting needlessly. His style is straight and clear -- what we promise to do should be done fast."

PMO officials have told Bengal officials that the Centre can consider reservoirs along the Teesta in Bengal to store water during monsoon for lean season use, so that the committed flow to Bangladesh is not affected.

"But they have said a deal on Teesta with Bangladesh is a sovereign commitment of India and has to be honoured."

Meanwhile, BJP, Congress and Left politicians have attacked Mamata for opposing the Teesta deal and suggesting instead sharing four smaller rivers.

The Indian media has also attacked the West Bengal chief minister for 'springing a surprise' with the proposal to share smaller rivers.

BJP State Minister for Heavy Industries Babul Supriyo criticised Mamata for raising 'a totally new proposal' when the prime minister had made a formal commitment to a close ally like Bangladesh.

"This is not only unprecedented but very unfortunate," said singer-politician Supriyo, an MP from West Bengal who served as the 'minister-in-waiting' to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her India visit this time.

"This one proposal spoils the mood that was upbeat after so many agreements and with India hiking the line of credit to unprecedented levels."

The Teesta River barrage in the northern Bangladesh district of Nilphamari. File photo

Congress MP and former central minister from Bengal Adhir Chowdhury attacked Mamata for 'suddenly bringing the smaller rivers into the equation.'

"What is she trying to do? Why did she not raise this issue all these years?  The Congress government negotiated Teesta deal with Bangladesh, now Modi is trying to implement it, so why create confusion? " said Chowdhury.

He and Left politicians, like MP Mohammed Salim and CPI (M) leader in Bengal Assembly Sujan Chakrabarty also alleged that "Mamata was perhaps looking for a secret bargain somewhere."

"If Mamata insists that Centre should take her into confidence on Teesta, how can she make a proposal on smaller rivers without consulting the Opposition in Bengal?" asked Chakrabarty.

"She is neck deep in corruption cases like Saradha and Narada. She wants a deal with Modi, so she raised the smaller rivers," added the CPI (M) leader.

MP Salim said that he believed Mamata has other considerations for driving a bargain on Teesta.

"Her opposition is tailored to extract a hard bargain with Modi."

BJP leaders like Kailash Vijayvargia , who is party's Bengal in-charge, said Modi has consulted her and given her due importance during the Hasina visit in keeping with the spirit of ' cooperative federalism.'

"But she cannot hold India hostage to her whims and calculations. She should not tax Modi's patience."

The top Bengali daily 'Ananda Bazar Patrika' ridiculed Mamata's proposals in a detailed analysis.

"The smaller rivers have a limited basin and waters from them cannot substitute the volume that Teesta can offer, so Mamata's proposal is not being considered by Delhi even for exploration," it says.

Commenting on Hasina's visit, most of the Indian newspapers have described the Bangladesh prime minister as a 'very trusted ally' and someone 'who has done much for India', suggesting it was payback time.

India Today TV ran a full 30-minute programme on Hasina, in which former foreign secretary Krishnan Srinivasan made it clear that India "cannot just let her down."

"If we don't seal these water deals fast, she will come under huge fire and that does not work to our advantage at all," he said.