INDIA鈥橲 announcement to send a technical team to Bangladesh to discuss the conservation and management of the River Teesta appears farcical. India, which has since 2010 put on hold the signing of an agreement on the sharing of the water of the cross-border Teesta, has expressed its willingness to support a large-scale development plan on the management of the river in Bangladesh鈥檚 north. This is not the first time India has so done. New Delhi in the first week of May also offered to finance the project for a comprehensive management and the restoration of the river after China had showed interest in it and carried out a survey. What is farcical about this is that the absence of an agreement on the Teesta water sharing with India leaves five districts in Bangladesh 鈥� Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Rangpur through which the river flows 鈥� dry in the lean season, adding to the risk of desertification, because of the unilateral withdrawal of water upstream. The situation also leaves the region frequently inundated in the monsoon season as India opens all floodgates, often without any intimation. India, which is at the heart of the problem, should, therefore, have no role to play in it.
The agreement on the sharing of Teesta water with India was put into the final form in 2010, with both the sides agreeing a 50:50 sharing formula provisioning for 20 per cent of the water as the environmental flow. But India backtracked on the signing of the agreement hours before India鈥檚 prime minister of the time arrived in Dhaka on September 6, 2011. And, having left the signing of the agreement in the lurch for so many years that has added to the risk of desertification in Bangladesh鈥檚 north, New Delhi in early May conveyed its willingness to finance the development plan involving the Teesta when India鈥檚 external affairs minister called on Bangladesh鈥檚 foreign minister in Dhaka. And now, India, described as a 鈥榯rusted friend鈥� and 鈥榬egional partner鈥�, has offered to send a technical team to discuss the project to resolve the problem that India has caused for Bangladesh by withholding the signing of the agreement and by withdrawing water upstream unilaterally. Now when Bangladesh鈥檚 prime minister visited India in June 21鈥�22, New Delhi signed 10 memorandums of understanding, seven new and three renewed, most of which appear to benefit India more but set aside the signing of the Teesta water sharing agreement. Dhaka should not entertain any proposal of New Delhi involving the Teesta development plan meant to improve the socio-economic condition in Bangladesh鈥檚 north by, among others, setting up economic growth points, preventing flooding, dredging the river bed and constructing dams and reservoirs in the catchment area. India had rather sign the Teesta water sharing agreement.
India having been at the heart of the problem of the life and livelihood that have for long been at stake around the River Teesta and the region, this is no wise that India should have any involvement in the project meant to stem the decline caused by India鈥檚 unilateral withdrawal and sudden release of the water upstream.