Latest news with #GangaWaterTreaty
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Talks on Ganga Water Treaty renewal with Bangladesh yet to begin: Govt
Bilateral discussions for the renewal of the Ganga Water Treaty between India and Bangladesh are yet to begin, the government informed Parliament on Friday. Inputs on drinking water and industrial water requirements have also been received from all stakeholders, including from the government of West Bengal, which have been taken into account while formulating the government's views, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said in a written response. He was responding to a query on whether the governments of India and Bangladesh have initiated high-level technical discussions for the renewal of the Ganga Water Treaty, which is set to expire in 2026. "With regard to the Ganga/Ganges Water Treaty signed in 1996 between India and Bangladesh, bilateral discussions for its renewal are yet to commence between the two countries," Singh said. Under the framework of the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC), technical-level meetings continue to be held with Bangladesh on all water-related issues of mutual interest and the last such meeting was held in March 2025, providing a structured platform for data sharing and joint monitoring, he added. The government of West Bengal is "regularly consulted" by the Union government in preparing for the aforementioned discussions, Singh said. The minister said, An authorised representative from the government of West Bengal took part in inter-ministerial discussions held on the matter on October 30, 2023, March 15, 2024, May 31, 2024 and also on March 26, 2025, where a collective view was formulated. Inputs on drinking water and industrial water requirements have also been received from all stakeholders, including from the government of West Bengal, which have been taken into account while formulating the government's views," the MoS said.
New Indian Express
27-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Government moots plans for effective water management
NEW DELHI: To reduce the wastage and misuse of groundwater, the Union Government has identified pilot projects for effective water management. 'We are in the process of finalising the pilot projects,' said CR Patil, Union Minister for Jal Shakti. 'These projects will provide adequate water at a central location with enough pressure so that different farmers can utilise it according to their needs." However, in response to a question about whether the Centre has any plans to tax water supplied to farmers, Patel categorically said that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of state governments and is a state subject. The scheme aims for modernisation of the irrigation water supply network to supply irrigation water from existing canals or other sources in a designated cluster. It will make robust backend infrastructure for micro-irrigation by farmers from established source to the Farm gate up to 1 Ha with underground pressurised piped irrigation. The technology will be used for water accounting and water management. This will increase the Water Use Efficiency (WUE) at the farm level, increase agriculture production & productivity; and thereby increase the income of farmers. 'We are in the process of finalising the pilot projects,' said Patil. 'These projects will provide adequate water at a central location with enough pressure so that different farmers can utilise it according to their needs.' According to the Annual Groundwater Extraction report, the agricultural sector accounts for 87% of the total 239.16 billion cubic meters (BCM) of water extracted. Indiscriminate extraction led to severe depletion of ground water in different states. For this scheme, the Central government has allocated ₹1,100 crore, with an additional ₹500 crore provided from other projects. 'This decision will revolutionise the agriculture sector,' stated Patil. 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 current political situation in Bangladesh is not conducive to discussing another river treaty like the Teesta,' Patil noted while interacting with the media on the 11th anniversary of the Narendra Modi government.
Indian Express
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Pak, China making headway in Bangladesh, India should keep up': Experts to parliamentary panel
The Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs was told by experts on Friday that the Pakistan-China nexus is making headway in Bangladesh and that India should keep up with the developments in the country and not be caught napping. The experts told the panel that India should create stakes in Bangladesh and engage with the neighbouring country through people-to-people contact, The Indian Express has learnt. The agenda of the meeting on Friday was to hear experts on 'Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship'. Four experts in the field of external affairs briefed the Standing Committee on Friday. Former national security advisor Shivshankar Menon, retired Army General Syed Ata Hasnain, former high commissioner of India to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das and Dean of the School of International Studies (JNU) Amitabh Mattoo briefed the committee on Friday. One of the experts is learnt to have told the panel that the Chinese are making a lot of headway in Bangladesh through infrastructure development like building ports and air bases. Another expert said that the role of the media in the two countries developing a bond is quite crucial, and in the recent past, the media has played a negative role in both India and Bangladesh. One expert said that India needs to grasp the reality of the new power structure in Bangladesh and move ahead. The committee was told that India needs to think and move beyond former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina and engage with the current ruling dispensation in the country. The panel was also told that the need of the hour was to engage with the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. An Opposition member in the Committee asked the experts how West Bengal could play a role in improving India's relations with Bangladesh. Sharing of river water was also discussed during the meeting, including the Ganga Water Treaty, which is up for renewal in 2026. Members asked the experts about the probable reasons for the trust deficit between India and Bangladesh and what could be done to mend the relationship.
New Indian Express
27-06-2025
- 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
26-06-2025
- 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.
