Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti on Friday ruled out the possibility of putting water on the concurrent list of subjects of the Constitution. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a BJP meeting in Howrah district, she said the Teesta water sharing issue could be resolved through discussion with all stakeholders including the West Bengal government.
“I don’t think so at all [that putting water on concurrent list will resolve the Teesta issue]. It can be resolved through discussion…The reality is that water is in the State list and on that basis we will find out a solution,” said Ms. Bharti. She also said that the views of all the stakeholders including the West Bengal government would be considered before a decision was taken in this regard. “We will consider the views of all the stakeholders — the State government, Bangladesh and the Centre — before taking a decision,” said Ms. Bharti.
Ties with Dhaka
She made it clear that the Centre would ensure that the Teesta water sharing issue did not have any adverse effect on India’s relations with Bangladesh. “We will not allow any politics over Teesta. We have decided that water will be the basis of our good relations [with Bangladesh] and not the cause of souring our relation,” she said.
Her comments come days after the Teesta water sharing agreement did not materialise during Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India and meeting with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already made her displeasure clear about the discussion between Ms. Hasina and Mr. Modi and said Teesta was the lifeline of North Bengal and it could not be taken away.
