ID :
40702
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 18:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/40702
The shortlink copeid
RahmBangla-India JRC meeting to resume shortly: officials By Anisuran
Dhaka, Jan 14 (PTI) India and Bangladesh will soon resume
the long-stalled crucial water-sharing talks, at the
initiative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's new government,
officials said.
The Joint River Commission (JRC) set up for the purpose
of finding a solution to water-sharing issues of a number of
common rivers including the Teesta is likely to hold new
deliberations soon.
The talks broke down three years ago in 2005 during the
regime of Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by Khaleda Zia.
"We are taking steps to resume the JRC talks immediately
as the last meeting of the commission was held in 2005," a
water resource ministry spokesman told PTI.
He said sharing of waters of the Teesta rivers would be
high on the agenda alongside sharing of waters in other rivers
like Dharala, Dudhkumar, Monu, Khowai, Gomoti and Muhuri as
the deltaic Bangladesh is criss-crossed by some 230 rivers, of
which 54 major ones originate from India.
The spokesman said Bangladesh also awaits discussions at
the ministerial level JRC level meeting with India on river
erosion, river demarcation and border development activities.
His comments came a day after Indian High Commissioner in
Dhaka Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty made a courtesy call on Water
Resource Minister Romesh Chandra Sen as the new cabinet was
sworn in on January 6.
"We have discussed water sharing and other outstanding
problems. A JRC meeting is needed to resolve the issues," Sen
told newsman after the meting with the Indian envoy.
"We want to maintain a very friendly relation with our
next-door neighbour, who have shown their positive attitude in
solving all existing problems," Sen added.
Dhaka has been pursuing a deal for water sharing in the
Teesta, a major common river, as the flow of the stream
dwindles every year. Experts have said the phenomenon exposed
the ecology of the region to dangers apart from immediate
economic losses.
Since the JRC meeting was not held at regular intervals,
the issues remained unresolved.
Sen assured that signing of any pact, which preserves
Bangladesh's interests, would be his first priority.
The last foreign secretary level talks between Bangladesh
and India in August last year discussed ways to make tangible
progress on water-related issues.
Dhaka had asked India to particularly expedite work on
reaching an agreement on sharing of waters of common rivers
especially of the Teesta.
A landmark 1997 water sharing treaty on the Ganges river
during Hasina's 1996-2001 tenure was seen as a major
breakthrough in resolving the water issue between the two
countries. PTI AR
AM
the long-stalled crucial water-sharing talks, at the
initiative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's new government,
officials said.
The Joint River Commission (JRC) set up for the purpose
of finding a solution to water-sharing issues of a number of
common rivers including the Teesta is likely to hold new
deliberations soon.
The talks broke down three years ago in 2005 during the
regime of Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by Khaleda Zia.
"We are taking steps to resume the JRC talks immediately
as the last meeting of the commission was held in 2005," a
water resource ministry spokesman told PTI.
He said sharing of waters of the Teesta rivers would be
high on the agenda alongside sharing of waters in other rivers
like Dharala, Dudhkumar, Monu, Khowai, Gomoti and Muhuri as
the deltaic Bangladesh is criss-crossed by some 230 rivers, of
which 54 major ones originate from India.
The spokesman said Bangladesh also awaits discussions at
the ministerial level JRC level meeting with India on river
erosion, river demarcation and border development activities.
His comments came a day after Indian High Commissioner in
Dhaka Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty made a courtesy call on Water
Resource Minister Romesh Chandra Sen as the new cabinet was
sworn in on January 6.
"We have discussed water sharing and other outstanding
problems. A JRC meeting is needed to resolve the issues," Sen
told newsman after the meting with the Indian envoy.
"We want to maintain a very friendly relation with our
next-door neighbour, who have shown their positive attitude in
solving all existing problems," Sen added.
Dhaka has been pursuing a deal for water sharing in the
Teesta, a major common river, as the flow of the stream
dwindles every year. Experts have said the phenomenon exposed
the ecology of the region to dangers apart from immediate
economic losses.
Since the JRC meeting was not held at regular intervals,
the issues remained unresolved.
Sen assured that signing of any pact, which preserves
Bangladesh's interests, would be his first priority.
The last foreign secretary level talks between Bangladesh
and India in August last year discussed ways to make tangible
progress on water-related issues.
Dhaka had asked India to particularly expedite work on
reaching an agreement on sharing of waters of common rivers
especially of the Teesta.
A landmark 1997 water sharing treaty on the Ganges river
during Hasina's 1996-2001 tenure was seen as a major
breakthrough in resolving the water issue between the two
countries. PTI AR
AM
