Teesta Water scarcity hampers agriculture on both banks

Water scarcity is hampering agriculture on both banks of Teesta, including the banks of Teesta. Teesta is almost dry due to drought due to excess silt during the monsoon. New chars emerge every year. As a result, this once majestic river has lost its shape. This is affecting the biodiversity of Teesta banks.

Teesta, which originates in North Sikkim in India, joins the Brahmaputra at Chilmari in Bangladesh through the Nilphamari. 115 kilometers of the total 315-kilometer-long Teesta flows in Bangladesh. After independence, neighboring India started unilaterally withdrawing water by building the Gazaldoba Barrage in their part in 1998. Since then, Bangladesh has been deprived of its fair share of water, although it has equal rights to the water of Teesta.  Recently, Teesta flood waters have filled the Teesta basin with more silt. Currently, Teesta is almost dry.

Shahidar Rahman, a farmer from Harinchora area of ​​Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila, said, “Once upon a time, there were abundant crops in the lands surrounding Teesta. Earlier, water used to flow in Teesta river all year round. But nowadays, there is not enough water for farming during the dry season. And the water that is available is very less. There are no fish in that water either.

Rahim Mia, a farmer from Char Govardhan area of ​​Aditmari Upazila of the district, said, “Since there is no water flow in Teesta river, they have to use underground irrigation water through machines, so farming has become less profitable. If there was water flow in the river all year round, then the people living in the riverbanks would not have to face poverty anymore.”

Joynal Ghatiyal, a resident of Kalmati Pakar Matar in Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila, said, “During floods, there is water for 2-3 kilometers. You have to drive a boat.  And now you can cross the river on foot. Farmers and others use boats only to keep their goods from getting wet. That is why my income has decreased. If this continues, Teesta will turn into a canal.’

Shafiqul Islam Kanu, president of the Lalmonirhat district unit of the ‘Save Teesta, Save the River’ Sangram Parishad, said that during the rainy season, Teesta widens to at least 2-3 kilometers. But now it has become about 50-60 meters wide, where the water is only up to the knees.

Describing the hardships of the people of Teesta, he said that it is very difficult to think how the people of Teesta can walk for miles on sand. They are forced to cross on foot on sand because they have to go to the mainland.

Asadul Habib Dulu, the chief coordinator of the Teesta River Protection Movement, said that the people of Teesta used to spend their days happily. The Teesta River was like our mother, but now that Teesta River has dried up and turned into a desert.  The Teesta River is now a dry sandbar.

He also said that our neighboring country builds dams upstream of the Teesta River to hold back water during the dry season, and releases water for no reason during the rainy season. This results in floods. The houses of lakhs of families are submerged in water, houses are subject to river erosion. Teesta has now become a cause of our sorrow.

Executive Engineer of Lalmonirhat Water Development Board, Sunil Kumar Roy said that since November, the water level of the Teesta River has started to decline sharply. All the tributaries of Teesta have dried up at an alarming rate. Many new chars have already emerged in the Teesta. This has had a negative impact on the biodiversity of the Teesta banks. The government has started working to implement the Teesta Master Plan. If the Teesta River is protected, crores of people of Teesta banks, agriculture, environment and biodiversity will be protected. Employment will increase for the people of Teesta banks.