Joint Rivers Commission and water dispute
Sunday, 20 April 2014
The statute of Joint Rivers Commission (JRC), signed on November 24, 1972, states that Bangladesh and India will conduct study on the 51 international rivers flowing both the countries so that a win-win situation may prevail between the countries in regard of sharing water, basically for irrigation purposes. But the unethical and aggressive policy of India towards Bangladesh has made the JRC ineffective.
According to the ad-hoc Teesta Water Sharing Agreement-1983, Bangladesh was supposed to get 36 per cent of water whereas India to get 39 per cent. But at present Bangladesh is getting only 409 cusecs of water out of proposed 2900 cusecs. As a result, there is a sharp decline in the water level around the Teesta region. About 10 rivers in Teesta Basin area have dried up. Because of withdrawal of Teesta waters upstream in India, Boro cultivation in the northern region suffered in the last season.
It is a great concern whether we will get our due share of Teesta water. The Indian government has been dilly-dallying with the signing of the Teesta Water Agreement. Our government should build up diplomatic pressure on India to sign the agreement without any further delay.
Deb Proshad Halder
debproshadhalder@gmail.com