Teesta River pact may be called off in PM's visit to Bangladesh: Sources

The Teesta River pact scheduled between India and Bangladesh is likely to called off, confirmed media sources said.

According to media reports, the Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai has informed to media that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee is unlikely to go in the Prime Minister's upcoming 2-day Bangladesh visit.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh 2-day trip is scheduled on 06-07 September 2011. The Chief Minister of four states Assam, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya will accompany Prime minister while Mamta Banerjee will most probably won't go with the team, informed Mathai to media.

This clarification came out by Ministry of External Affairs after West Bengal CM walked out from her previous decision to go with PM team. Mamta Banerjee is disagree to govt's draft on Teesta River Pact in which Bangladesh can get 25% more water than what was promised to West Bengal.

The central government is unlikely to ink the deal without taking Mamta in the confidence.

"Any agreement to conclude will have to be accepted by the state government and Bangladesh. No agreement will be done without the consultation of the state government," said Mathai.

The Central government is trying to placate West Bengal CM, as consent of all the five states are necessary to ink this deal.

Bangladesh on the other hand was disappointed from the last miniute's drop out decision of Mamta Banerjee, but expressed its hope that she would visit the country soon.

'We would be disappointed if Mamata does not come,' said Gawher Rizvi, foreign affairs adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

'It is the internal matter of India, but we would warm welcome, if she visits to the country,' added Rizvi.

As it is known that five districts of West Bengal - Coochbehar, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, North and South Dinajpur - are likely to be affected by the Teesta River water sharing agreement.