Dhaka, Delhi finalise MoU text on interim water sharing of Kushiyara

Bangladesh and India on Thursday finalised the text of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on interim water sharing of the Kushiyara River.

Both sides also welcomed finalisation of the design and location of water intake point on the Feni River to meet the drinking water needs of Sabroom town in Tripura as per the October 2019 Bangladesh-India MoU on this subject.

At the 38th ministerial-level Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) meeting held in New Delhi, the two countries discussed “issues related to water-sharing treaties” of various rivers, including Teesta and Ganga.

The meeting was held after a gap of 12 years. The last meeting was held in 2010.

State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque led the 17-member Bangladesh delegation at the JRC meeting while India’s Jal Shakti (Water Resources) Minister Gajendra Singh Shakhawat led the Indian delegation.

AKM Enamul Haque Shamim, deputy minister for water resources, was also part of the Bangladesh delegation.

The meeting assumed significance as it was held after a long gap, though the technical interactions under the framework of JRC have continued in the intervening period.

Bangladesh side requested for conclusion of the long pending Teesta water sharing treaty at an early date. The Indian side assured of their utmost efforts in concluding the agreement.

The Bangladesh state minister requested the Indian minister for his support in signing the MoU for withdrawal of water by Bangladesh and India from the common stretch of Kushiyara River at an early date. The Indian minister assured that the issue is under their consideration.

Both sides agreed to conduct the feasibility study for optimum utilisation of water received by Bangladesh under the provision of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, 1996.

India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers, of which seven rivers have been identified earlier for developing the framework of water sharing agreements on priority.

During the meeting, it has been agreed to widen this area of ongoing cooperation by including eight more rivers for data exchange.

The matter will be further discussed at the Technical Level Committee of JRC. The JRC meeting was preceded by water resources secretary-level interaction on Tuesday.

The Joint Rivers Commission of Bangladesh and India was constituted in 1972 as a bilateral mechanism to address issues of mutual interest on common/border/transboundary rivers.

The discussions during this bilateral meeting were held on a number of ongoing bilateral issues of mutual interest including river water sharing of common rivers, sharing of flood data, addressing river pollution, conducting joint studies on sedimentation management, river bank protection works etc.

One of the important areas of cooperation, where India has been assisting Bangladesh, is sharing of real time flood data. India has recently extended the period of flood data sharing beyond October 15 to help Bangladesh address unforeseen flood events.

The JRC meeting discussed the whole gamut of the issues related to the common rivers between the two countries specially the Ganges, Teesta, Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla, Dudhkumar and Kushiyara.

Apart from this, exchange of flood-related data and information, river bank protection works, common basin management, and also Indian River Interlinking Project were discussed in detail.

The JRC meeting agreed to undertake some more common rivers for exchange of data and information towards preparation of the draft framework of interim water sharing agreement.

Earlier at the seventh round of the Bangladesh-India Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting held in New Delhi this year, Bangladesh and India agreed to work closely together to further deepen and strengthen cooperation in the areas of common rivers and water resources management.