Bihar concerns to be raised during renewals: Jaishankar

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has assured Bihar that the state’s concerns over the Farakka Barrage and the India-Bangladesh water-sharing treaty will be discussed during the treaty renewal process, the Times of India reports.

The neighbouring South Asian countries are due to renew the treaty by the end of this year, said Vijay Kumar Choudhary, deputy chief minister and water resources minister, on Saturday.

Vijay had accompanied Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha to a meeting with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar in New Delhi on Friday.

He said the centre had "responded positively" to Bihar's longstanding concerns.

The meeting focused on issues related to Bihar's water resources, irrigation, and flood management.

"Most of the water reaching the Farakka Barrage originates from catchment areas in Bihar, but the state has not received its due share for drinking water, irrigation, and industrial use," Vijay said, arguing the state's interests had been overlooked during the signing of the India-Bangladesh water-sharing treaty three decades ago.

The discussion also focused on high-level reservoirs and dams on the Kosi and other rivers in Nepal.

Bihar's participation in the Joint Project Office established in Biratnagar in 2004 was reviewed at the meeting. The JPO had been formed to facilitate preparatory work for the proposed reservoir projects.

Vijay said Jaishankar assured the delegation Bihar would be represented in the JPO, which currently includes representatives from Nepal and the central Indian government.

Bihar's pending irrigation and flood-control projects were also raised at the meeting, the deputy chief minister said.

The state has been seeking greater support on water management issues from the central government, particularly in relation to recurring floods and the utilisation of river water flowing through the state.    
    �"bdnews24