Mamata Banerjee Sounds Alarm Over Teesta Water Crisis

Parimita Mahanta

Kolkata: On Monday (July 08, 2024), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had reiterated that Teesta water will not be shared with Bangladesh. She claims that there is no water in the Teesta River during the dry season, and whatever little there is, if given away, the people of the state will be left without water.

She made these remarks at a press conference held at the state government’s secretariat ‘Nabanna’

Mamata Banerjee Sounds Alarm Over Teesta Water Crisis

Teesta River is a 414 km (257 mi) long river that rises in the Pauhunri Mountain of eastern Himalayas, flows through the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal and subsequently enters Bangladesh through Rangpur division. In Bangladesh, it merges with Brahmaputra River which after meeting some other major rivers of the Bengal delta finally falls into the Bay of Bengal.

Banerjee raised questions about the Centre’s decision to approve multiple hydel power projects on the Teesta in Sikkim, Sikkim has developed multiple hydroelectric power projects on the Teesta River, leveraging its substantial water flow to generate electricity. These projects are part of the state’s initiative to utilize renewable energy sources and boost local energy production. there are currently 14 such projects.

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The Chief Minister pointed to the example of the Atrayee river, which is also known as known as Atreyee, “is a river that flows through India and Bangladesh.” Its water diminished in West Bengal after dam constructions by Bangladesh and China.

These remarks came almost two weeks post the visit of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a forthcoming visit of a technical team to Bangladesh to discuss Teesta river management. Banerjee had also communicated her concerns in a letter to Modi.

In the letter, written after the recent visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India, the Chief Minister while calling the discussion on Teesta “unilateral deliberations”, said that if the water is shared with the neighboring country, people of north Bengal will not get water.

However, Banerjee said at the press conference held at the state government’s secretariat, “There is almost a flood situation in North Bengal. Teesta is overflowing. It rains more in Bengal as it is dominated by rivers. Teesta overflows in monsoon but is dry without water in summer”. Where she also expressed concern over the flood situation in Bengal.

Meanwhile, National Highway 10 has been damaged due to landslides in North Bengal and huge areas of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduars have been inundated due to huge rainfall and flood situation. Many tourists are trapped in the hills. Many stranded in Sikkim. In heavy rains, tourists should not venture to hills, the Bengal Chief Minister said, warning people to stay away from the hills.

Banerjee also mention about earlier flood like situation faced by Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar in North Bengal because of Kerala river and Bhutan flows

According to her statement, Mamata Banerjee had created nine flood centers, where 500 people have taken refuge in Kranti and Malbazar areas of Jalpaiguri. She also alerted Jalpaiguri Municipality and ask them to pull up socks for action. “In Coochbehar, Mathabhanga there are 500-600 people in relief shelters,” she said. Banerjee also announced that there will be two-three centralized helpline numbers and certain district numbers.

She also asked that Urban, PWD, Power and all other departments should come and work together. She also urged Kolkata Police- Direct General, Additional Director General, District Magistrate and Police Superintendents to immediately solve the problems. “Instruction should be passed on to lower levels,” she said.

11-07-2024

Parimita Mahanta is the student of the Communication & Journalism , Gauhati University

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