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India's River-Linking Project

Concern over major rivers of Bangladesh

Pinaki Roy
Bangladeshi river experts and environmentalists expressed concern over India's fresh move to implement the controversial river linking project that will connect trans-boundary rivers and divert water to southern Indian states.
The project, if implemented, will diminish the water flow in Bangladesh's rivers like the Teesta, Jamuna and the Padma and affect the country's environment and economy, they say.
The issue came up again as different Indian media published reports, signalling Indian government's intent to go ahead with a grand plan of linking rivers across the country connecting Teesta-Ganga-Manas-Sankosh covering three Indian states - West Bengal, Assam and Bihar.
"Definitely it will reduce the water flow if they divert water from our common rivers," said Prof Ainun Nishat, hydrologists and former member of joint river commission.
Though Bangladesh and India share 54 common rivers, the upstream India is yet to communicate the matter with downstream Bangladesh.
Asked, Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud said India has not communicated Bangladesh regarding the matter yet.
“I am yet to see the [media] report. But if it is true, we will send a letter asking them to explain the matter," he told The Daily Star last Wednesday.
Over the years, India has assured Bangladesh that it will not take any project that may be harmful for Bangladesh, the minister said.
Referring to media reports, Mir Sazzad Hossain, member of Bangladesh-India Joint Rivers
Commission (JRC), said interconnecting Teesta-Ganga-Manas-Sankosh is one of the 14 components of India's project to link30 Himalayan rivers.
"They are not supposed to divert water from any of the Himalayn river without the consent of Bangladesh. They cannot do it without taking Bangladesh on board," Mir Sazzad said.
Quoting Indian Water Resources Minister Sanwar Lal Jat, several Indian newspapers published reports, saying the water resources ministry would soon be taking up the planning of a very important link, Manas-Sankosh-Teesta-Ganga, in consultation with the governments of Assam, West Bengal and Bihar.
"This link project will not only provide large irrigation and water supply benefits to Assam, West Bengal and Bihar but will also make available large quantum of water for transfer subsequently to southern states," he said in an official statement.
The governments in West Bengal, Assam and Bihar will soon be approached for their consent, Jatsaid.
When this correspondent drew his attention to the minister's statement, Prof Nishat said the Manas and Sankosh rivers are tributaries of India's Brahmaputra river which is called the Jamuna in Bangladesh. These rivers feed the Brahmaputra and if they divert their water, it will decrease the water flow in the Jamuna. It will decrease our share of water and also have an impact on the environment.
“As per the joint communique signed by the two prime ministers of Bangladesh and India in 2010, the trans-boundary rivers would be managed basin-wide and that India cannot do it alone," he said.
Abdul Matin, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), said India had already made some progress in connecting the Teesta with the Ganges through the Mahananda river.
"Many environmentalists in India do not support this controversial project. If the Indian government really tries to implement the plan, Bangladeshi environmentalists will launch a movement against this controversial project," Matin said.