India-B'desh Ganges talks continue at technical level

New Delhi: India has confirmed that ongoing discussions with Bangladesh on river-related matters, including the contentious Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, are proceeding at a technical level, according to a Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson. The Ganges Water Treaty, signed in 1996, is set to expire in December of this year.

This treaty governs the distribution of the river's water during the dry season, from January 1 to May 31, at the Farakka Barrage in West Bengal. All river-related disputes between India and Bangladesh are managed through the Joint Rivers Commission, with regular meetings of this committee still conducted at the technical level, Jaiswal emphasized.

The spokesperson's statement came in response to queries regarding the Treaty's renewal. Jaiswal also clarified that the Ministry of External Affairs is closely monitoring events in West Asia, in response to a query about reports suggesting Bangladesh's interest in joining a recently signed Mecca defense pact involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.