W Bengal comes first for Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday said her state's needs should be taken care of when India deals with the issue of sharing the Teesta water with Bangladesh.
After an hour-long meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni at the Writers' Building (the state secretariat) in Kolkata, Mamata told reporters that how much water Bangladesh and West Bengal can share will be clear after an expert committee set up by her government submits its report.
The expert committee is headed by noted environmentalist Kalyan Rudra.
Mamata said she appreciates that Bangladesh needs water and "we would be happy to give water to Bangladesh". West Bengal too needs Teesta water for irrigation, particularly for rice cultivation, and to run four to five thermal power plants in northern part of the state especially during the lean season between February and April.
Observing that efforts had been made by some quarters to create controversy and confusion over the water-sharing issue, she said, "I will appeal to the media not to write anything that may adversely affect relations between the two countries. Remember, this is not a political battle. This is a question of strengthening bonds between two countries."
The chief minister said India and Bangladesh have always had friendly ties and that will last for ever.
She said Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accepted West Bengal government's invitation to the Calcutta University's convocation ceremony.
She (Mamata) too has accepted Bangladesh government's invitations to two major programmes in December and March. She, however, did not mention where the programmes will be held.
Mamata said she told Dipu Moni to set up a joint task force to strengthen cultural bonds between India and Bangladesh.
Dipu Moni, in the joint media appearance with Mamata, said she discussed the Teesta water-sharing issue and other matters with the chief minister.
"Teesta water-sharing is an important issue for us. West Bengal government has a view on it but I won't comment on it." The problem will hopefully be solved, she said.
The Teesta water-sharing treaty could not be signed during Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka in September due to Mamata's last-minute reservations. The chief minister also had refused to accompany the prime minister in the visit.