Both sides can withdraw up to 153 cusecs of water each from the common border river Kushiyara

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the governments of India and Bangladesh on the withdrawal of water by both sides from the common border river Kushiyara has received ex-post facto approval from the Union Cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Taking to Twitter, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, tweeted on Wednesday, "Our Cabinet has approved the Memorandum of Understanding between India and Bangladesh on withdrawal of upto 153 cusecs of water each by the two countries from common border river Kushiyara. This will help Assam immensely during the dry season. #CabinetDecisions"

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on September 6, 2022, between India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti and Bangladesh’s Ministry of Water Resources, regarding the withdrawal of up to 153 cusecs of water from the River Kushiyara, which runs along their shared border, for each country's consumptive needs during the dry season (1st November to 31st May).

According to the official press release from the Ministry of Jal Shakti, this MoU would allow the Government of Assam to take up to 153 cusecs of water from the shared section of the Kushiyara river for their consumptive water needs during the dry season.

It was also stated that a Joint Monitoring Team will be established by the two nations to track the water withdrawals made by each nation throughout the dry season.