Include original Teesta Basin in Teesta Project: Intl Farakka Committee
The International Farakka Committee (IFC), which campaigns for parity in water-sharing of transboundary rivers between India and Bangladesh, has welcomed the government's move to implement a Chinese-funded project for the Teesta River, but asked that the original basin be included in it.
Once completed, the project promises to remove the dependence on upstream India for a fair share of the waters.
In a statement today, The IFC said the Tk 80 billion project will not only mitigate the annual flood and erosion damages, but also ensure the overall socio-economic development of the people of Bangladesh's Northwestern region.
"The project stands for sustainable development along the 102 kilometre length of the river from the Teesta Barrage at Dalia of Nilphamari district to its outfall in the Brahmaputra via Mohipur and Kaunia," it said, referring to the route taken by the Teesta upon entry into Bangladesh.
IFC leaders urged the government, through their statement, to approve and implement the present Teesta Project and at the same time include the original Teesta Basin under its coverage.
They said the overall development of the Northwestern region of Bangladesh will be complete if the present project is expanded to include the old and original Teesta Basin covering the Atrai, the Korotoa and the Punarbhaba rivers.
If this is done the command area of the project will cover 28,000 square kilometres against the present 4,000 square kilometres.
They said the Teesta in Bangladesh has practically turned into a dead river because of excessive siltation after being deprived of its natural flow for decades.
Against this backdrop, the government has taken up the Teesta River project which stands for increasing the navigability of the river and recover 170 square kilometres of land through dredging, along with the establishment of satellite towns on its two banks after stabilisation of the main channel.
The statement said the IFC leaders believe it's not wise continuing to remain idle waiting for release of water as the process of desertification is getting from bad to worse in the northwestern region of Bangladesh.
The statement has been signed by IFC New York Chairman Atiqur Rahman Salu, Secretary General Sayed Tipu Sultan, IFC Bangladesh President Prof Jasim Uddin Ahmad, Senior Vice-President Dr SI Khan and IFC coordinator Mostafa Kamal Majumder.
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