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.