Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh later this month, officials from the Ministry of Water Management of India and Bangladesh will meet in Delhi tomorrow to discuss issues related to river water sharing and flood forecasting.
The Indian delegation will be led by Pankaj Kumar, Secretary of the Jal Shakti Ministry. Bangladesh will be led by senior secretary Kabir Bin Anwar, sources said.
Sources said the two sides would negotiate water sharing between the rivers Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dudhkumar and Dharla.
Discussions are also likely to take place on the withdrawal of water from the Feni River to the town of Sabroom in Tripura, they said.
In addition, discussions are also planned on a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to draw water from the Surma River.
India and Bangladesh have a comprehensive system in place to resolve water problems at various stages. The Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) has been in operation since 1972. It was developed with a view to maintaining the connection in order to ensure the most productive collaborative effort to maximize the benefits of common river systems.
