I will not compromise with Bengal's interests, says Mamata

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her proposal to share water from other rivers of North Bengal with Bangladesh should be considered and reiterated, that no step should be taken that affects the interest of Bengal.

Asked about Teesta water sharing with Bangladesh, Banerjee said: "We love Bangladesh and I have given suggestion to share water from several rivers with the country but the interest of Bengal should be kept intact. We will not do anything that affects the interest of Bengal," she said.

The Chief Minister said that she will not let anything happen that hampers the interest of the state.

It may be mentioned that during the trip of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India early this month, Banerjee had categorically said that water from Teesta could not be given as it would affect Bengal's interest. She suggested that the water from river Torsha could be shared with our neighbouring country. But her suggestion did not go down well with the Bangladesh government who wanted water from river Teesta to be shared.

On Monday afternoon, Banerjee held an administrative meeting in Cooch Behar and expressed satisfaction over the performance of Cooch Behar's district administration. On Tuesday, Banerjee is expected to distribute various item to the beneficiaries of Cooch Behar.

During the administrative meeting, Banerjee said air services to Cooch Behar is likely to start in July. There will be a nine-seater plane and both state government officials and public will be able to avail the services of the aircraft. The state government is considering to introduce the service in a public private partnership model. "This will benefit both the government and public and will improve the communication in North Bengal," she maintained.

Banerjee said houses for the chitmahal residents who have recently become a part of India would be built and the infrastructure of the area would be developed. Chitmahal came under India from Bangladesh in 2015. "The people of Chitmahal will get houses and infrastructure will be improved," said Banerjee on Monday.

She said the communication system in Cooch Behar had become better with the construction of new bridges, roads and culverts. In future, more developmental works will be undertaken, she said. She said people from Cooch Behar who to go for work to other states but lost jobs due to demonetisation in November 2016. The goverment stood beside these people and gave Rs 50,000 each to start businesses under the Samarpan project.

The students of Class IX in state-run, sponsored and aided schools will get bicycles under the Sabuj Sathi project on Tuesday. She will also give assistance to people under Kanyashree and Yubashree projects on Tuesday.