UNI, New Delhi :
The government of India strongly favours resolution of Teesta water share issue with Bangladesh but no feasible solution is possible without taking the West Bengal government, a key stake holder, on board, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said here on Monday. “No resolution on Teesta is possible without taking all stake holders on board. The solution cannot be achieved merely by the two central governments – the Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh. West Bengal government is a key stake holder and therefore we try to talk to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on this,” Ms Swaraj told reporters here. In 2017 when Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was in India, Ms Banerjee had offered an alternative formula wherein water can be supplied to Bangladesh from three other rivers and not from Teesta, she said. “On this a feasibility study has been ordered and representatives from West Bengal government and Union Water Resources ministry are in it. That report is now being awaited,” she said. To a question, she took exception when a journalist said whether “non settlement” of Teesta water share could be considered a “diplomatic failure” of the Modi government. “We are just four years in office and still have one more year, why do you call it a failure?,” she said adding “intezar karo (show patience)….we are trying to find a resolution”. “Because there is a third stake holder also. Without taking it on board, we cannot get a solution which can be implemented as the water has to flow from West Bengal,” she said. On the Rohingya issue, Ms Swaraj denied that there was any allegation from Bangladesh that India sided with Myanmar on the matter. She said on the contrary Indian government is pleased to note that both the governments in Myanmar and Bangladesh have reached agreement and also fix a deadline of two years to conclude “repatriation” works.
