West Bengal looks for out-of-box solution to Teesta water sharing

West Bengal is now "looking for an out-of-the-box solution" bypassing the actual sharing of water of Teesta as the West Bengal government is not yet keen on sharing water.
"The 'out-of-the-box solution' of West Bengal is nothing new. Earlier, it was in the discussion. West Bengal repeatedly talked about the Teesta water flow during lean period. It is fact and so we could think about the solution to bring other three rivers water into Teesta and save the mighty river. However, we disagreed," a senior official of the Foreign Ministry told the Daily Observer.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held the much-awaited meeting at her (Hasina) hotel (Taj) in Kolkata on Saturday evening. They discussed Rohingya, politics and water sharing issues, diplomatic sources told the Daily Observer.
The three rivers are Torsa, Jaldhaka and Atrai.
Following the meeting West Bengal Chief Minister said she shared a very cordial relationship with Hasina and no geographical or political boundary can create differences between West Bengal and Bangladesh as they have the same culture and language.
"I admire Hasina-di most and she loves me. Our relationship is very honest and everlasting. I hope the relation between India and Bangladesh will grow stronger with time," she said.
The meeting started at 7:00pm (lndian time) and lasted almost one hour. Rohingya repatriation, fund for
Rohingyas and water sharing of trans-boundary rivers was the key agenda of the meeting, sources said.
 Emerging from the meeting Sheikh Hasina did not talk with the media. Hasina never met the press in Kolkata in recent times. She attended several closed-door meetings with the West Bengal Chief Minister in Kolkata in recent years but did not share anything with the media.
Mamata had earlier said that the Teesta river was the lifeline of north Bengal and there was very little water in it. She had said other trans-national rivers could be diverted to meet Bangladesh's water needs.
Regarding Hilsa supply Mamata said: "We are also producing lots of Hilsa now."
"We are thinking and analyzing the Sheikh Hasina's speech at Santiniketon. The central government and state government would do well to understand the advice hidden in Sheikh Hasina's message.
The Prime Minister praised "all parties and all politicians" for coming together and clearing the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) to swap enclaves between India and Bangladesh in 2015.
"Like in 1971, the entire Indian people came together for Bangladesh for it [LBA]," quoting Hasina the Hindu said, she (Hasina) stressed the need for bipartisanship to prevail in ties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assurance to visit Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for an "early resolution" to the Teesta water dispute has firmly brought the elephant in the room.
The key question of Saturday's meeting between the Prime Minister and Ms. Banerjee is whether West Bengal will accept Bangladesh's demand for releasing adequate water during the lean season.
The Teesta water-sharing negotiation has been going on for decades, but yet to reach anywhere close to a settlement.
"During the meeting, Mamata expressed her concern about the "Lean season woes." Mamata showed Hasian about the State's Irrigation Department that showed "there is no water in Teesta in the winter, the lean season."
Mamata Banerjee briefed the press later in the evening. However, what remains unclear is the fate of sharing of Teesta river water.
Prior to the meeting, Hasina visited the residence of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, which is now a museum.