Staff Correspondent

The West Bengal government was never ignored on the renewal of the Ganges Water-sharing Treaty with Bangladesh, a highly placed diplomatic source in New Delhi said on Tuesday.

The source also said the West Bengal government was fully consulted on the renewal process and all concerned stakeholders have been included in the Committee formed to carry out internal review.

India and Bangladesh signed a treaty on 12 December 1996 for the sharing of the Ganga/Ganges waters (which is measured) at the Farakka barrage during the lean season.

This treaty is valid for 30 years and therefore due for renewal in 2026.

In a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 June, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that the decision to start talks for the renewal of the treaty was “unilateral” and urged the prime minister not to hold any discussion with Bangladesh without involving the West Bengal government.

Diplomatic sources in India said an internal committee was constituted by the Ministry of Jal Shakti on 24 July 2023 to carry out an internal review of the treaty. Stakeholders concerned include the government of Bihar as well as West Bengal, whose representatives have been included as members of this committee.

The government of West Bengal nominated their representative to the committee on 25 August 2023.

The internal committee has held four meetings so far: on 22 August 2023, 30 October 2023, 15 March 2024 and 31 May 2024. It submitted its final report on 14 June 2024 which is under examination by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

The government of West Bengal has been represented by either the Joint Secretary, Irrigation & Waterways Department or by the Chief Engineer (Design & Research), Irrigation and Waterways Department in three of the four meetings, i.e. the Govt. of West Bengal representative participated in all three meetings held after the nomination was received.

On 5 April 2024, a communication was also received from West Bengal indicating its drinking water and industrial water requirements for inclusion in the treaty beyond 2026. This requirement was reiterated by the representative from West Bengal, who participated in the last meeting of the committee held on 31 May 2024.

The required preparatory works for the renewal of the treaty were therefore conducted by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in consultation with the stakeholders, including the government of West Bengal.

In the next step, Jal Shakti has formed a Joint Technical Committee to initiate discussions between India and Bangladesh on the renewal of the Ganges Water Treaty.