Staff Reporter :
Despite repeated attempt to get response from the Indian Water Resources Ministry for signing agreement to share water of the transboundary river Teesta, the Indian government hasn’t yet given any positive answer to deal with the issue in more than last two years.
However, Bangladesh’s Water Resources Ministry is expecting that of the issue would be resolved soon by signing a bilateral agreement between the two countries to share the water of the river.
“I had met the Indian Water Resources Minister in 2020 while attending an international event in Hungary. I had sent several letters after returning from the event. I had also invited him to visit Bangladesh to resolve the long-pending issue through discussion. But, he hadn’t responded. I think, he will visit at a suitable time to resolve the much-awaiting problem,” State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque on Monday said while responding to a query at Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters’ Forum (BSRF) Dialogue held at the media center of Bangladesh Secretariat.
BSRF, a forum of reporters working to cover Secretariat, arranged the dialogue. Zaheed Farooque attended the Monday’s event as lonely guest. BSRF President Tapan Bishwas presided over the programme while its General Secretary Masudul Hoque moderated.
Zaheed Farooque said, “We had taken several initiatives to sign the deal. Our Prime Minister had tried for it. Now, the issue is pending with the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office).”
“We are anxious with the issue of Teesta water sharing deal. We want to sign it soon. But, the issue is progressing slowly. You know that the issue of signing the deal slowed down due to the Chief Minister of West Bengal. We are working on the matter. It would be signed to resolve the problem of sharing Teesta water,” he added.
Regarding the ‘Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project’ with Chinese funding worth US$725.09 million, the state minister said, “A study was conducted. We have progressed in implementing the project. The PMO has already reviewed that which company will work. Once the PMO gives its instruction, the Water Resources Ministry will start implementing the work.”
Regarding retraction of sands from the rivers, Zaheed Farooque said, “There are many reasons of river erosion. Sand retraction from the rivers is one of the major reasons. This is now a popular and profitable business. Some people retract sand at deep dark night. If it continues, the river shores will not sustain even if those are protected using iron dam.”
“We don’t say for stopping of sand retraction. We have given instruction that the sands are retracted from the places those are permitted. A draft policy for sand withdrawal has been sent to the Cabinet Division keeping the provision of withdrawing sand till 6pm from 6am every day. It would be better if the people can see. The people must have to be aware about the issues,” he said, adding, “If we stop withdrawing sand, it price will also be hiked. So, we cannot stop retracting sands.”
He also said that if the sand withdrawal at night continues, the river shore or dams will not sustain.
In response to a query, he said that some contractors of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) have been implementing some 60 to 70 projects at a time. That’s why, the speed of their works slowed down. “We have decided not to allow a construction firm to get works of more than 15 projects at a time.”
