West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed strong disapproval on Monday over not being included in the discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina regarding water sharing.

Emphasizing the deep ties between Kolkata and Dhaka, Banerjee said, "Such unilateral discussions without consulting the state government are neither acceptable nor desirable."

In the recent bilateral meeting between PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina, the leaders discussed the management of the Teesta River and the renewal of the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty. PM Modi announced that a technical team would visit Bangladesh to address the "conservation and management of the Teesta River."

India plans to build a large reservoir and related infrastructure to manage and conserve Teesta water, which has sparked opposition from Banerjee. She has long criticized the water-sharing pact, citing the Farakka barrage's role in causing erosion, siltation, and floods in West Bengal.

"People of West Bengal will be the worst sufferers due to the impact of such agreements. I understand that the Government of India is renewing the Indo-Bangladesh Farakka Treaty (1996), which expires in 2026. This treaty, which outlines water-sharing principles between Bangladesh and India, has significant implications for West Bengal's people and the navigability of the Kolkata port," Banerjee stated in her letter to PM Modi.