The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said Bangladesh is observing the situation and verifying the media reports of India's plan to withdraw water from the River Teesta for hydropower and irrigation projects in West Bengal.

"The water resources ministry and Joint River Commission (JRC) are readying a paper, and we will seek to know the facts from India. Then we shall take necessary measures," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin told journalists at the weekly media briefing at the ministry.

Indian newspaper The Telegraph last week reported that the West Bengal government decided to set up three hydropower plants in Darjeeling, and two of them are likely to reduce the volume of water in the Teesta.

It also reported that the West Bengal government acquired 1,000 acres to dig two canals and divert more water from the river to irrigate farms in Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts.

Teesta water is crucial for irrigation in the northern part of Bangladesh, especially during the lean period between December and April.

Seheli said the life and livelihood of the people in a large part of Bangladesh depend on the Teesta water.

So, Bangladesh has been trying to ink a water-sharing deal with India for many years, she added.

In 2011, the two neighbours finalised the Teesta water-sharing agreement but it was not signed due to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's opposition during the then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Dhaka visit.

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Seheli said considering Bangladesh and India's "excellent relationship," Bangladesh will continue to work to resolve the issue through dialogue.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque said India-Bangladesh JRC members in Bangladesh already prepared a letter that would be sent to India soon to officially learn the facts about the reported plan of diverting water from Teesta by the West Bengal government.

"We have learnt about the plan of digging canals and withdrawing water. We want them [India] to officially tell us the facts. Then we will be confirmed if India is withdrawing water or not," he told journalists at the foreign ministry after a stakeholders' consultation on the UN Water Conference to be held in New York on March 22-24.  

He said the letter has already been drafted and he will sign it at the soonest.

Farooque said he is expecting a JRC meeting before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's New Delhi visit in September.

Regarding the Water Conference that will also be attended by Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Farooque, Seheli said they will highlight Bangladesh's rights of having water as a lower riparian country as well as the impacts of climate change and seek the support of the international community.

"Bangladesh will highlight the basin-wide water management of the international rivers. It will focus that proper water management will be a major determinant of regional and international cooperation, peace and security," she added.

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