1. Union Cabinet approves sharing of Kushiyara River between India and Bangladesh
Tags: National International News
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on 28 September 2022 , has given its ex-post facto approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of the Republic of India and the Republic of Bangladesh on withdrawal of upto 153 cusecs of water each by India and Bangladesh from common border river Kushiyara.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 6th September, 2022 between the Ministry of Jal Shakti, and Ministry of Water Resources, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh during the visit of the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India.
This MoU will enable Government of Assam to withdraw upto 153 cusecs of water from the common stretch of Kushiyara river during dry season (1st November to 31st May) for their consumptive water requirement.
A Joint Monitoring Team shall be set up by both the countries to monitor the withdrawal of water by each side during the dry season.
India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers including Ganges, Teesta, Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla, Dudhkumar and Kushiyara and others.
Kushiyara River
- It is a branch of the Barak River. The Barak River rises in Manipur Hill in Manipur and after flowing through Mizoram it enters Assam.
- The river next splits into two branches, the Surma (north) and the Kushiyara (south), which enter Bangladesh and turn southwest.
- The Kushiyara River forms the boundary between Assam and Sylhet district of Bangladesh.
2. PM Modi and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina jointly unveils Unit-I of Maitree Super Thermal Power Project
Tags: International Relations International News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina jointly unveiled Unit-1 of Maitri Super Thermal Power Project after bilateral and delegation level talks in Delhi on 6 September.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The project is being constructed under India's concessional financing scheme.
This will add 1320 MW to the national grid of Bangladesh.
The first unit of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant will go into commercial operation early October.
Unit-II of the power plant, also known as the Rampal coal-fired power project, is expected to be commissioned early next year.
India-Bangladesh delegation level talks :
India-Bangladesh delegation level talks under the leadership of PM Modi and Hasina began at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh is on a four-day visit to India to strengthen the multi-faceted ties between the two countries.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Agenda of the talks :
The agenda for talks between the two countries included connectivity, energy, water resources, trade and investment, border management and security, development partnership and regional and multilateral matters.
Seven MoUs between India and Bangladesh :
Interim bilateral agreement on water sharing of the Kushiyara river
Signing of MoU on Scientific Cooperation between Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India and Bangladesh Council of Scientific Industrial Research (BCSIR).
MoU signed between National Judicial Academy, Bhopal and Supreme Court of Bangladesh to promote capacity building
Ministry of Railways signed an MoU with Bangladesh Railways, under which India will train personnel of Bangladesh Railways in Indian training institutes
MoU signed between ministries of both countries to cooperate in providing IT solutions to Bangladesh Railways
MoU signed between Bangladesh Television and Prasar Bharati
MoU between the two countries for promotion of cooperation in space technology and scientific and research
India - Bangladesh :
Bangladesh and India share an international border of more than four thousand kilometres.
The five states of India Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal touch the border of Bangladesh.
The land boundary between the two sides has been amicably resolved with the ratification of the landmark Protocol to Land Boundary Agreement in 2015.
Bangladesh accounts for the largest share of foreign tourist arrivals in India.
In 2021-22, Bangladesh has emerged as the largest trading partner for India in South Asia and the fourth largest export destination for India.
Bilateral trade between the two countries has increased from $9 billion to $18 billion in the last five years.
