PM Modi, CM Mamata Banerjee, and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina in Water Sharing Dispute

New Delhi, India – The Indian government and West Bengal are in a disagreement over water sharing with Bangladesh. The Union government accused West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of spreading false claims about not being consulted on the 1996 Ganga Water Sharing Treaty.

According to government sources, West Bengal was kept informed throughout the process. Last year, the Centre asked for a nominee from West Bengal for a committee to review the treaty. In August, West Bengal nominated their Chief Engineer for the committee. This April, West Bengal’s Irrigation and Waterways Department shared their water demands for the next 30 years.

CM Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing her concerns about the talks with Bangladesh, calling it a ‘unilateral’ decision. She also accused the BJP of ignoring the livelihoods of Bengal’s people and having an ‘anti-Bengal’ mindset.

During Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India, PM Modi announced that both countries would start technical talks to renew the Ganga River treaty. A technical team will visit Bangladesh to review the Teesta River’s management. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra confirmed that a joint technical committee would discuss the treaty’s renewal and the Teesta River’s conservation.

The Farakka Agreement, which expires in 2026, involves sharing the Ganga’s water at Farakka, a dam near the Bangladesh border. The Teesta River, prone to floods and erosion, also faces water shortages during the dry season.