Latest news with #GangaWaterTreaty
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Union government plans to impose farm water tax
NEW DELHI: To reduce wastage and misuse of groundwater, the Union Government now plans to impose a tax on water usage for agricultural purposes. In collaboration with state governments, the Union government will soon launch 22 pilot projects across different states. Under this initiative, farmers will receive sufficient water and would be taxed based on its usage. 'We are in the process of finalizing pilot projects,' said C R Patil, Union Minister for Jal Shakti. 'These will provide adequate water at a central location with enough pressure so that different farmers can utilize it according to their needs. Users will be taxed based on the quantity of water they consume,' he explained. According to the Annual Groundwater Extraction report, the farm sector accounts for 87% of 239.16 billion cubic meters (BCM) of water extracted. Indiscriminate extraction has led to severe depletion of groundwater. The Centre has allocated Rs 1,600 crore for this scheme. States would determine the tax. 'It is essential to prevent misuse. Local water user associations, rather than the state, should levy taxes to control water wastage,' said Ashok K Meena, additional secretary, Dept of Drinking Water and Sanitation. When asked about India's stance on the Ganga Water Treaty, which is set to expire next year, Patil stated that a decision would be made in the country's best interest, as it is an international treaty. 'The political situation in Bangladesh is not conducive to discussing another river treaty,' Patil said while interacting with journalists.
Hindustan Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
India denounces destruction of temple in Dhaka, says interim govt allowed it
NEW DELHI: India on Thursday denounced the destruction of a Durga temple in the Bangladeshi capital and said the development reflected the inability of the interim government in Dhaka to protect the country's Hindu minority and their religious institutions. Ministry of external affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addresses a press conference in New Delhi (File) (@MEAIndia/PTI) The remarks by external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal came against the backdrop of a sharp downturn in bilateral ties since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government last August and the installation of a caretaker administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. India has criticised the interim government on numerous occasions for its failure to prevent the repression of Bangladesh's religious minorities. With India and Bangladesh set to hold negotiations for renewing the Ganga Water Treaty of 1996, which is set to expire next year, Jaiswal told a weekly media briefing that New Delhi is prepared to engage with Dhaka on all matters in an environment conducive to mutually beneficial dialogue. Jaiswal criticised Bangladeshi authorities for the demolition of the Durga temple in Dhaka. 'We understand that extremists were clamouring for demolishing the Durga temple in Khilkhet, Dhaka,' he said. 'The interim government, instead of providing security to the temple, projected the episode as illegal land use… and allowed the destruction of the temple today [Thursday].' He added, 'This has resulted in damage to the deity before it was shifted. We are dismayed that such incidents continue to recur in Bangladesh.' Jaiswal emphasised the Bangladeshi interim government's responsibility to protect Hindus, their properties and religious institutions. He responded to a question about the renewal of the Ganga Water Treaty by saying that India and Bangladesh share 54 cross-border rivers, including the Ganga. 'To discuss all relevant issues that form part of this cooperation, the two countries have a bilateral mechanism in place, which is the Joint Rivers Commission. We also have consultations of concerned state governments… in our own internal consultations on such issues to frame our approach,' he said. 'We are prepared to engage with Bangladesh on all matters in an environment that is conducive for mutually beneficial dialogue,' he added. Asked about India's decision to curb Bangladeshi exports via land ports, Jaiswal said the measures were based on Dhaka's own quest for 'fairness, equal treatment and reciprocity'. He said: 'We await resolution of the underlying issues pending with the Bangladeshi side for a long time. These issues have been raised by India at several structured meetings earlier, including at the commerce secretary-level talks.' Last month, India curbed Bangladesh's exports of ready-made garments and several consumer goods through land ports in order to ensure fairness and equality in bilateral trade. These restrictions were imposed weeks after New Delhi ended a nearly five-year-old arrangement for trans-shipment of Bangladeshi cargo to third countries via Indian airports and ports.
India.com
2 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
After Pakistan, Modi govt gets ready to punish anti India Yunus hard by reviewing..., Bangladesh will now be...
Bangladesh's interim government chief Professor Muhammad Yunus Ganga Water Treaty update: Amid growing struggle between the governments of Bangladesh, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus and PM Narendra Modi, the government of India has taken another decision which has sent shockwaves across Bangladesh. For those unversed, the interim, un-elected government of Bangladesh led by anti-India leader Muhammad Yunus is leading Bangladesh after former PM Sheikh Hasina was removed in a coup. The interim government has taken several steps which can clearly be adjudged anti-India. In its recent action, the Modi government is planning to make significant changes to the Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh, as per a report by the New Indian Express. Here are all the details you need to know about the Ganga Water Treaty and why India is willing to negotiate in its terms. New terms on Ganga Water Treaty As per media reports, India is actively pushing for a revision in the terms of the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh, ahead of its expiry next year in 2026. India has reportedly proposed the amendements as per its domestic needs of irrigation, port maintenance, and power generation. Apart from these terms, India has also proposed the reduction of the treaty duration from 30 years to 10–15 years along with increasing India's share of lean-season water by an additional 30,000–35,000 cusecs. 'Before Pahalgam, we were inclined to extend the treaty for another 30 years, but the situation changed drastically afterward,' a senior officer at the Ministry of External Affairs who participated in a meeting with the Bangladeshi counterpart earlier in May was quoted as saying by the New Indian Express report. About Ganga Water Treaty The Ganga Water Treaty was signed on December 12, 1996 between India and Bangladesh, governing the sharing of river water, particularly during the lean season around the Farakka Barrage. India in no hurry to review suspension of Indus Waters Treaty In another significant development after the ceasefire agreement was signed between India and Pakistan, the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) announced that it is in no hurry to dilute the decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, a stand taken by the Centre as part of tough measures announced against Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack, as per a report by news agency IANS. (With inputs from agencies)
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Union govt presses Bangladesh on review of Ganga treaty
NEW DELHI: After the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the government has now decided to renegotiate the Ganga River Water Treaty with Bangladesh, which is set to expire next year. India has communicated to its counterpart that it requires more water to meet its developmental needs. The new treaty will likely to be shorter, lasting 10 to 15 years. The shorter duration will foster flexibility and adaptability for both nations moving forward. The Ganga Water Treaty was signed on December 12, 1996 on sharing of water, particularly around the Farakka Barrage during the lean season. 'Before Pahalgam, we were inclined to extend the treaty for another 30 years, but the situation changed drastically afterward,' stated a senior officer at the Ministry of External Affairs who participated in a meeting with the Bangladeshi counterpart earlier in May. 'It was a routine meeting, held twice a year, but it also provided an opportunity to express our concerns regarding the increasing need for water to support domestic development, which will influence the terms of the new treaty,' the officer explained. According to internal documents for discussions, seen by this newspaper, the Farakka Barrage was built to continuously divert 40,000 cusecs of water into a feeder canal for the Kolkata Port Trust (now known as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata). 'The 1996 treaty has disrupted this arrangement, leading to issues such as slope failure, bed erosion, and heavy siltation in the KPT, which has reduced its navigational efficiency. Additionally, the NTPC plant there is facing water crisis,' the officer added. The current arrangement provides 35,000 cusecs of water alternately for 10 days each to both countries during the lean season, which lasts from March 11 to May 11. India is seeking 30,000 to 35,000 cusecs more during the same period to meet its emerging requirements.
NDTV
28-04-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
After Steps Against Pak, Northeast Seeks Similar Move Against Bangladesh
Days after India imposed a series of severe measures against Pakistan in response to the terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam district that killed 26 tourists, key political figures and parties in Northeast India have called for similar action against Bangladesh, amid concerns over infiltration and its increased interaction with Pakistan. The first to sound alarm bells was Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who last week said authorities have been alerted about the close ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Days later on Sunday, Bharatiya Janata Party (MP) Nishikant Dubey called for a similar action on the eastern front. Speaking to reporters, Mr Dubey said: "Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is in constant touch with Bangladesh's interim government. To stop the terror infiltration, both India and Bangladesh's borders need to be secured. The agreement for the waters of the Ganga was wrong by the then Congress government in 1996." He added: "Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been saying it constantly. The West Bengal Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) opposed the Teesta Water Agreement. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is not in favour of the water of the Brahmaputra going into Bangladesh. How long will we provide water to snakes? It is time to crush the snakes. The entire nation has faith in the PM and the Home Minister. This work will be done soon..." The BJP MP from Godda in Jharkhand was referring to the Ganga Water Treaty that was signed between India and Bangladesh in 1996. His comments also came against the backdrop of India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty that it had signed with Pakistan in 1960, following the terror attack. WHAT IS THE GANGA WATER TREATY? Just like the Indus Waters Treaty lays down the mechanism for sharing water of the Indus and its tributaries between India and Pakistan, the Ganga Water Treaty is an agreement on the sharing of the waters of the Ganga river between India and Bangladesh. The treaty guarantees 35,000 cusecs of water to Bangladesh if the water flow is around 70,000-75,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs), and divides the water equally if the flow falls below 70,000 cusecs. The treaty, signed in 1996, is scheduled for renewal in 2026, after 30 years. A team from Bangladesh visited West Bengal earlier this year for a field visit to the Farakka Barrage ahead of talks on the issue. India has its own interests when it comes to the waters and often, it is because of these treaties why India was never able to make full use of the potential of the river waters. For India, the Farakka Barrage is critical for the Hooghly River system and West Bengal as it feeds the tributary of the Ganga, the Hooghly River which services the Kolkata and the Haldia ports as well. WHY IS THE ASSAM CHIEF MINISTER WORRIED ABOUT BANGLADESH? On Sunday, Mr Sarma said India must act against Bangladesh, the way it did with Pakistan, amid concerns over cross-border infiltration. "I think India should take a tough action against Bangladesh and I am sure these measures are under consideration by the Government of India. But these are strategic decisions, and we should not go beyond a point," he said. "As a Chief Minister, we can request but a decision will be taken by the Government of India after considering the entire security aspect of whether you can take on both Pakistan and Bangladesh at a time or whether you take them on one by one, that is a decision to be taken by the central government. But I also share the same sentiment of other political leaders of the Northeast region who have demanded tough action against Bangladesh," he added. Earlier, the Chief Minister said: "We are also concerned about Bangladesh and the recent hobnobbing between Bangladesh and Pakistan. So, we have alerted our security agencies and asked them to maintain strict vigil and be aware of what is going on across the border." WHAT ARE BJP ALLIES IN THE NORTHEAST SAYING? Tipra Motha chief Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarman, whose party is an ally of the ruling BJP in Tripura, said: "Bangladesh and Pakistan will try to surround India, one from the western side and one from the eastern side. I completely support the Government of India. A horrific incident has happened in Pahalgam, and the Government of India has reacted." He added: ""The Government of India should also react when the same thing happens in east India because we are as much Indians, proud Indians. The behaviour of Bangladesh towards India and the behaviour of Pakistan should be dealt with in the same way... we want the Government of India to be as strong with Pakistan and Bangladesh." In a post on X, Mr Debbarman flagged the issue of infiltration from Bangladesh to India through the Northeast Indian region. "Illegal Bangladeshis are entering every day! For every five people apprehended, 1,000 get away because of the terrain and porous border. Tripura is going through a demographic change once again! Both Assam and Tripura and parts of Meghalaya have become transit points for illegal migration to the Northeast and rest of India. The Indigenous Tribes that are asking for land rights here are doing so because we know sooner than later, we will be overrun by illegal migration. Can we expect justice and attention from the rest of India? Our boys know the area and if given the support, will defend our land and kick out illegal Bangladeshis from entering our country." WHY SHOULD INDIA BE WORRIED ABOUT BANGLADESH? Recently, Bangladesh recently called for stronger ties with Pakistan and hardline Islamic radicals and terror-accused have been released from prison. These anti-India voices have also allegedly held meetings with members of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus. Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed, highlighted one such meeting on X. The post features photographs of Harun Izhar, a hardcore militant and decades-old Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B) operative, meeting Law Adviser Nazrul reportedly in the Law Ministry's offices. Izhar has known links to Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has carried out several attacks on India, including the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.
