NEWS reports in a national English daily quoting Indian media report said on Wednesday that the Indian government would soon take up planning of linking some major rivers in Assam, West Bengal and Bihar in the upstream of Bangladesh. As we know, the projects looks forward to connect river Manas and Sankosh, which are tributaries of Brahmaputra with Michi and Teesta and far in the west with the Ganges to create a new water reserve system to exclusively use the additional water for irrigation to grow more crops. The initiative has come as a surprise in Bangladesh in the backdrop of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement in Dhaka during his recent state visit to the effect that common rivers’ water would be used for the common good of the people of the region. Contrary to his statement, India now reportedly is set to prepare plans to divert common rivers water to the interior of Indian states on Bangladesh border and beyond to the south Indian states. If it happens it is already a known fact that our crop production would suffer severe setback, besides environmental degradation would be crippling and fisheries would be lost for ever. River Teesta, Jamuna and Padma would dry up with reduced flow of water from the upstream. It is a highly destructive Indian government project, although it is totally illegal by international law. Even the joint communiqué signed by former Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh during his visit to Dhaka in 2010 with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina categorically agreed that trans-boundary rivers would be managed basin-wise and India would not do anything alone. Naturally, the breaking of the news by the Indian media quoting the water resources minister Sanwar Lal Jat that he would open consultations with the state governments of Assam, West Bengal and Bihar soon to prepare the plans, has reasons to create panic in Bangladesh. In Dhaka, water resources minister Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud said he is not aware of the matter and he would first check it before asking for an explanation. But question arises whether the Indian government really bothers to talk to Bangladesh as much as it bothers to consult the state governments. Reports said India has already made some progress in connecting the Teesta with the Ganges through the Mahananda river. If it is true, it appears India is not taking Bangladesh’s concerns into any consideration.Even many environmentalists in India do not support this controversial river linking project and people in Bangladesh are really having a big misgiving on Delhi’s policy towards Bangladesh on this issue. They believe if India really wants to maintain friendly relations with Bangladesh and is committed to honest collaborations to jointly develop the region, Delhi can’t take up such river linking project. As our minister has said Dhaka would figure out the matter first, but people also believe the government must have the courage to defend our cause with fortitude without appeasement. Friendship is not appeasement. India has to undo injustices being done to us for sharing of international river water. The government comes and goes but the people shall be there.India must not also forget that Bangladesh is offering highly sensitive strategic concessions to them.
