Teesta Water Agreement

The Teesta Water Agreement: A Controversial Issue Between India and Bangladesh

The Teesta River, also known as the Tista, is one of the major rivers in the Indian subcontinent. It originates in the Himalayas and flows through the Indian state of Sikkim and the Bangladeshi districts of Rangpur and Dinajpur. The river is an important source of water for both India and Bangladesh. However, the sharing of its waters between the two countries has been a contentious issue for decades.

The Teesta Water Agreement was first proposed in 1983, and since then, efforts have been made to reach an agreement between India and Bangladesh on the sharing of the river`s waters. Both countries have made several attempts to finalize the agreement, but it has remained elusive.

The main bone of contention is the sharing of the water during the dry season from December to May. Bangladesh wants a greater share of the water during this period to irrigate its farmland, while India wants to maintain a larger share of the water for hydropower generation.

The issue gained greater prominence in 2010 when the then Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, visited Bangladesh and pledged to sign the agreement. However, the agreement could not be signed due to opposition from the government of the Indian state of West Bengal, through which the Teesta River flows.

The Teesta Water Agreement has become a highly politicized issue, with political parties in India and Bangladesh using it as a tool to gain popular support. In Bangladesh, it is seen as a matter of national pride, and any failure to sign the agreement is seen as a failure of the government. In India, it is viewed as a matter of protecting the interests of the state of West Bengal, which is ruled by a regional party that opposes the agreement.

The failure to sign the Teesta Water Agreement has had an impact on the relationship between India and Bangladesh. Despite growing economic ties, the issue of water-sharing continues to be a sticking point in bilateral relations. Bangladesh has accused India of not fulfilling its obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the sharing of waters from rivers that flow between India and Pakistan.

In conclusion, the Teesta Water Agreement is a contentious issue that requires a delicate balancing of interests between India and Bangladesh. The failure to sign the agreement has had an impact on bilateral relations and has become a political issue in both countries. There is a need for a negotiated settlement that takes into account the needs and interests of both countries.