Bangla Water Resources Minister Abdur Razak (left) with his Indian counterpart Sis Ram on Saturday.

DHAKA, July 20: India and Bangladesh today formed a joint committee of experts on sharing the waters of another major river, Teesta, and agreed on the need to remove bottlenecks in the implementation of the Ganges water treaty.

``We have formed a committee of experts on sharing of waters of the Teesta river between us,'' Bangladesh minister for water resources Abdur Razzak said.

Addressing a joint press conference along with his Indian counterpart Sis Ram Ola after a two-day meeting of the Indo-Bangladesh Joint River Commission (JRC), Razzak said, ``We have reached a consensus on all issues we discussed... in a spirit of goodwill and co-operation and there is no scope for misgivings''.

A joint communique issued after the two-day long deliberations of the JRC, held after a gap of seven years, said a joint committee of experts, headed by secretaries of water resources ministries, would be immediately reactivated to discuss the sharing of waters of Teesta and other common rivers.

India and Bangladesh which share 54 common rivers, earlier this year signed a historic 30-year agreement on sharing of the Ganga waters.

Both Ola and Razzak expressed happiness over the outcome of the JRC meeting with the visiting Indian minister assuring that he would do everything possible to implement the Ganges water treaty.

Refuting allegations that Bangladesh received less quantum of water during the last dry season, Ola said, ``Bangladesh is getting more water than stipulated in the treaty''.

``We have set up a scientific study committee to look into any problem in this regard,'' Ola said adding, ``We will implement whatever is mentioned in the treaty''.

The joint communique also said the two sides appreciated the need to remove bottlenecks in implementation of the Ganges water.

It was decided to undertake scientific studies in this regard in accordance with the terms of references to be jointly finalised by the technical teams of the two countries, the communique said.

Both sides also agreed to ensure transparency in implementation of the treaty both at the Farakka and the Hardinge bridges.

Both Ola and Razzak agreed to further continue discussions on the sharing waters of common rivers in New Delhi and decided to continue mutual cooperation in the field of flood forecasting and warning.

Observers here said the move to implement the Ganga water treaty has come as a moral booster for the Awami League government headed by Sheikh Hasina.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.