The devastating
impact of NRLP on Bangladesh�s economy, environment and ecology can be total. That is why a lackadaisical approach
to the NRLP on our part
can prove to be
catastrophic for us
River Linking Project deeply worries Bangladesh
A note verbal from Bangladesh---though sent to India in a timely fashion---may not be enough to stop Indias plan to implement its river linking project. Only a few days ago, according to the mainstream Indian media, the water resources minster of Bihar revealed that they are going to start the Manas-Sankosh-Teesta-Ganga national river linking project after discussing the matter with the state governments of Pashchimbanga, Assam and Bihar. This news has understandably caused grave worries in Bangladesh.
A big part of Bangladesh is already suffering from the consequences of the Farraka barrage built upstream in India. If Indias mega river linking project (NRLP) is finally implemented, then the remaining part of Bangladesh not affected by the Farakka barrage yet, will be also environmentally devastated with waterlessness. The disaster then will be total for Bangladesh. Besides hampering irrigation countrywide for farming, the NRLP can potentially deliver death blows to the remaining unharmed ecology of Bangladesh. Withdrawal of Teesta water upstream is already wreaking havoc for Bangladesh making farming in the command areas of the Teesta Barrage within Bangladesh almost impossible. India seems to be serious about implementing the NRLP. Some years ago the central Indian government, in its national budget, allocated 100 crore rupee for the project. At that time also Bangladesh expressed it concern to India. Now against the backdrop of what Bihars water resources minister said, Bangladesh must do the needful to avert the harm the project can cause to Bangladesh.
In this regard, a lackadaisical attitude can be catastrophic for us. The Indian government has taken up this large-scale project to link its rivers by a network of reservoirs and canals to reduce floods in some parts and water shortages in other parts of India. If India can do this without harming Bangladeshs unalienable rights to waters of common rivers, the latter has nothing to worry about it and nothing to speak against it.
But soon after India took up the plan for the project, environmentalists as well as media in Bangladesh expressed deep concern and warned that the project might spell disaster for Bangladesh. That is why, for Bangladesh, it is of utmost importance to convey its justifiable deep worries about implementation of the project to the Indian government. If the problem can be bilaterally solved---and this should be the right approach, ideally speaking---Bangladesh must try this. It is now commonly perceived that Bangladesh-India relationship is warmer than any time in the past. And if the problem is not solved in this way, Bangladesh must go for international arbitration, as it did to settle disputes over the maritime boundary both with India and Myanmar. Only through efficient diplomatic manoeuvring and presenting its case promptly and forcefully both to India and in international forums, Bangladesh can hope to protect its huge national interest.
