Mamata Banerjee on Friday asserted that she didn’t have any problems with Bangladesh getting water from the Ganga while referring to the 1996 India-Bangladesh treaty on water sharing, but wondered why the Centre didn’t release Rs 700 crore that it had promised then for the development of the two banks on the Indian side.

“India is giving water to Bangladesh. I have good relations with Hasinadi (Sheikh Hasina) and don’t have any problem with it. But in those days (in 1996), the Centre announced a sum of Rs 700 crore would be spent for development of areas in our state which are on the banks of the Ganga. So far, not a penny has been sanctioned,” said Mamata at a public meeting at Dhulian in Murshidabad, the district on the right bank of the river. “Erosion caused by the Ganga is a national issue. Yet, the Centre is silent. Our government has spent around Rs 1,000 crore in 10 years to tackle the problem,” she said.

An observer said Mamata appeared to say that subsequent central governments, which showed keenness to give water to Bangladesh, didn’t take care of Indian residents, thousands of whom have lost lands and homes to erosion.

Dhulian falls under Samserganj Assembly seat where erosion is acute.

“Yesterday, I announced Rs 50 crore to check erosion here. Today, I am increasing it to Rs 100 crores. If the Centre doesn’t pay, we will draw up a 10-year-long project to address the issue. I will ask the chief secretary to take up the matter with the Farakka Barrage Project authorities and the Niti Aayog,” Mamata said.

She also gave pattas (land deeds) to 87 families who lost homes and land to erosion.