West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claims that River Atrai and few other are drying up due to the barrages and water controlling structures set up by Bangladesh and sought Delhi’s intervention in the matter.
The issue was raised at the West Begal State Assembly on Tuesday (Jul 9) where she said that the central government was taking the issue lightly.
In a letter to the central government, she sought immediate resolution of the matter through a diplomatic meeting with Dhaka.
Rivers Atrai, Tangon, Punarbhaba all flow into West Bengal’s South Dinajpur from Bangladesh at some point in their course.
Amongst them, Atrai originates from Siliguri into Bangladesh before flowing back into South Dinajpur district of West Bengal.
The nearly 400-km long river is a source of livelihood to thousands of fishermen and farmers, who use its water for irrigation.
But in recent years, its flow has got severely affected by in Bangladesh, according to the West Bengal lawmakers.
State legislative member Narmada Chandra Roy said that the barrages and river-controlling structures set up by Bangladesh were severely affecting the flow of the river.
“The farmers of West Bengal don’t have any water for irrigation when they need it the most after monsoon season is over,” he said.
He added that water supply and irrigation process was completely breaking down throughout the district.
To his statement Mamata said that she had informed Delhi of the matter a number of times but they are taking it “too casually.”
“It is an international diplomatic issue and the government must take responsibility for it,” she said.
The West Bengal chief said that she will once again nudge the government to set up meetings with Dhaka.
As a matter of fact, she wrote to the union government on Wednesday (Jul 10) demanding a meeting between the two neighbours.
An irrigation ministry source at West Bengal told Bangla Tribune that a satellite image was attached to the letter.
“The picture clearly showed that Bangladesh has built barrage-like structures at Atrai through which the river water was being reserved,” he said.
According to Trinamool President Arpita Ghosh, Atrai is a unique river in the sense that it originates from India, flows into Bangladesh and then into India again.
“Our problem is that they are taking away the water by setting up barrages without India’s permission,” she said and added that Aatrai dries up by the time it enters South Dinajpur.
Bharatiya Janta Party leaders, however, feel that it is another political ploy on Mamata’s part regarding the water-sharing of the two countries.
An employee at the water resources ministry at Delhi said, “We will definitely try to look into West Bengal’s allegations and also ask Bangladesh.”
He added that they have no information on whether Bangladesh has indeed set up barrages at Atrai or any other rivers.
BJP leader Jayprakash Majumder said that Mamata was trying to prove once more that she won’t compromise on the water issue. “But the people of West Bengal now understand her tricks.”
Meanwhile, sources at Delhi said that a joint committee meeting between the river commissions of the two countries hasn’t happened in a long time and it’s not possible to resolve the issue unless a full meeting takes place.