Apprised Modi about Teesta deal: Mamata

Kolkata, March 4 (IANS) Ahead of meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said she has apprised the centre about her recent Dhaka visit and talks concerning the Teesta water sharing deal.

Banerjee is slated to leave for New Delhi on March 8 for her first one-on-one meeting with Modi after he came to power last year.

"After my recent visit to Bangladesh, I have apprised the prime minister and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj about the details about the Teesta water issue and Indo-Bangla relations," Banerjee told mediapersons here.

"In my letter to the two leaders, I have also said that we need improved bilateral relations between the two countries," she said.

Banerjee, who would be pitching for her long standing demand for a debt waiver for the state, refused to divulge if the Teesta deal would be on the agenda during her talks with Modi.

The West Bengal chief minister had blocked the water sharing deal between India and Bangladesh four years ago.

But during her visit to Dhaka in February, she assured Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of a solution to the issue.

In September 2011, Banerjee had embarrassed then Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh by pulling out of his delegation to Bangladesh over the water sharing agreement, forcing India to drop it from the agenda.