Dhaka, Delhi to jointly collect info

Bangladesh and India have agreed to work on water sharing and basin management of eight common rivers, including Teesta, officials said yesterday, adding that it was a significant progress on river talks between the two neighbours.

“We have prepared a framework of interim water sharing agreements on Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Feni, Gumti, Dharla, Dudhkumar and Teesta rivers, as well as on enhancement of cooperation in flood forecasting and basin-wide river management,” Bangladesh’s Water Resources Secretary Kabir Bin Anwar said after a secretary-level meeting between the two countries yesterday.

Bangladesh and India will jointly work on water sharing as well as on dredging, fighting pollution, constructing dams and embankments by the border rivers, he told reporters after the meeting, held after eight years, at the State Guesthouse Meghna in the capital.

“A technical committee has been formed in this regard. We’ve made a time-bound plan,” said Kabir, who led the Bangladeshi team at the meeting.

The Indian team was led by the country’s Water Resources Secretary Upendra Prasad Singh.

The meeting also discussed pollution of Bangladesh’s Churni river in Darshana, which is affecting its Indian part. It also discussed water pollution of C&B Canal and Jazi Canal of Agartala, which is flowing into Akhaura, Kabir said.

A joint technical team will immediately visit and collect samples from these rivers. Based on the findings, the two countries will come up with a joint plan, including setting up effluent treatment plants, he said.

The officials of the two countries also decided to conduct a feasibility study on the proposed Ganges Barrage project, especially its impacts on environment and livelihood both in Bangladesh and India.

Indian Water Resources Secretary Upendra Prasad Singh told reporters that any intervention in the river had implications, and it was important to assess that.

“We need to see how to maximise the benefits of the Ganges Barrage project proposed to be constructed in Bangladesh territory. We need to assess if it will have impacts on environment and livelihood -- both in Bangladesh and India,” he said.

Therefore, a joint technical committee comprised of two officials from Bangladesh and two from India was formed in that regard.

Some primary studies were done on it earlier, but a number of aspects were not incorporated there. The technical committee will finalise the terms of reference for the study by September 30.

The official said the Teesta deal, a much-awaited issue for Bangladesh, is a matter of how West Bengal responds to it. There has been a stalemate on it, but the two countries will discuss it. There are other windows of cooperation, and it was evident in the meeting, he added.

Upendra Prasad Singh said water is a top agenda in India, but its management was a huge issue.

He assured Bangladesh that India would not take up any river inter-linking project on the transboundary rivers.