The importance of power and water in the economic development of a country is undeniable. The vansadhara water disputes tribunal, constituted in february 2010 to resolve river water sharing dispute between. Recognising the lack of adequate water in the teesta, a committee of the west bengal government under indevar pandey, principal secretary of the public works department, has recently decided that the state will irrigate only 52,000 hectares with the rivers water, a reduction over 90% from the original plan. Geography of teesta river teesta originates from kangse glacier, charamu lake in sikkim, most of its catchment area lies in india. The dispute is regarding the sharing of the river waters.
Water diplomacy teesta river agreement between india. Gk, general studies, optional notes for upsc, ias, banking, civil services. As the earth faces a severe water crisis, the insecurity is only increasing with time. Early conclusion of teesta accord is in the strategic interest of india. It enters bangladesh, joins brahmaputra, and ends in bay of bengal. The flow of the river is of prime importance to bangladesh during the winter season. By 2030, bangladeshs water demand is expected to exceed available water supply by 21 percent in the dry season. Cauvery verdict by supreme court for river dispute bw karnataka.
Vimal is teaching the teesta water sharing issue an important topic for all the. The river basin is populated with over 30 million people who depend on the river water for drinking and domestic use, irrigation, industry and religious activities. It originates at tso lhamo lake in north sikkim and is formed by the melting of the tista khantse glacier. It is this phenomenon reduction of teesta s flow during lean season that is the bone of contention between india and bangladesh. Apr 16, 2017 teesta river originates from sikkim state of india and flows through northern west bengal and finally to bangladesh meeting jamunaread brahmaputra. It is this phenomenon reduction of teestas flow during lean season that is the bone of contention between india and bangladesh. Earlier, indopakistan krishenganga water sharing disputes. This means that the flow through the rest of the year is a mere 6 bcm. The teesta river originates from the pahunri or teesta kangse glacier above 7,068 m 23,189 ft, and flows southward through gorges and rapids in the sikkim himalaya. Geopolitics of water conflicts in the teesta river basin. Apr 14, 2017 recently, prime minister narendra modi conveyed his hopes for the earliest solution to teesta water dispute to his bangladesh counterpart sheikh hasina.
The teesta flows through the length of sikkim and is considered to be the lifeline of the state. Why india and bangladesh need a resolution on teesta water. Teesta water dispute has been going on for many decades. Despite setting up a joint river commission for water management as early as 1972, tensions between the countries on how to share resources recently came to a head in a dispute over the teesta river. Political e the teesta river basin the asia foundation. The volume of water in teesta is roughly about 18,00024,000 cusec of water each year. The teesta water sharing dispute has been simmering between india and bangladesh for a long time. Teesta river is a major source of irrigation to the paddy growing greater rangpur region of bangladesh. Article 262 of the indian constitution provides a role for the. Halfa dozen districts of west bengal and more than 70% of the population in bangladesh is dependent on teesta river. Gorkhaland, and the save the buri teesta movement in bangladesh are also significant issues tied to the bilateral relations between the two riparian nations.
View homework help teesta from archnology 121 at rajasthan technical university. Teesta river is one of the 54 rivers shared by india and bangladesh. It originates in sikkim and through the northern west bengal, it enters into bangladesh to meet brahmaputra. The dispute is regarding water sharing of river teesta. In may 2014, bangladesh pm hasina blamed the chief minister of bengal saying. It flows between india and bangladesh and meet to jamuna river in bangladesh. The teesta river originates in sikkim and flows through west bengal as well as bangladesh. Read expert opinions, top news, insights and trends on the economic times. Awami league general secretary obaidul quader has expressed hope that the process of solving the unresolved bilateral issues including teesta water sharing with india will be expedited through. Apr 11, 2017 summary india and bangladesh share 54 common streams with the teesta being a major one and the water sharing dispute between the two neighbours is not something new. By puskar on may 18, 2014 may 18, 2014 in news tagged teesta river, water. It has been a tough challenge, given that the search for solutions involves not only economics and politics, but mythology plays its part, too. Manmohan singh planned to solve teesta dispute but the chief minister of west bengal opposed the move.
The teesta river water issue between india and bangladesh by vimal singh rathore hindi lets crack upsc cse. It is fed by streams arising in the thangu, yumthang and donkiala ranges. It is the fourth largest among 54 rivers shared by india and bangladesh. The teesta barrage project, one of the largest irrigation projects in eastern india, was designed as a network of barrages and canals in six northern districts of west bengal intended for irrigation, hydropower generation, navigation, and flood control. The teesta river originates in the himalayas and flows through the indian states of sikkim and west bengal before entering bangladesh, where it flows into the brahmaputra. This paper assesses the bangladeshindia water sharing disputes which date back to the early 1970s with indias illconceived construction of the farakka barrage on the ganges. Orf pursues these goals by providing informed and productive inputs, indepth research and stimulating discussions. At a water flow measuring point close to teesta bazar, found that the rangit one of the major tributaries of the teesta has barely lost any flow in the last few years, in sharp contrast to the main stem of the teesta itself.
In her paper, geopolitics of water conflicts in the teesta river basin, gauri noolkaroak, a transboundary water conflicts researcher who travelled along the river, highlights why the teesta is a contested river. Summary india and bangladesh share 54 common streams with the teesta being a major one and the water sharing dispute between the two neighbours is not something new. India bangladesh relations iasmania civil services. This article gives a broad insight on the river water sharing dispute, a timeline of various commissions formed, proposed. Teesta water dispute news latest news on teesta water. Teesta water issue to be expedited, hopes quader the. Jun 08, 2012 despite setting up a joint river commission for water management as early as 1972, tensions between the countries on how to share resources recently came to a head in a dispute over the teesta river.
A geopolitical issue of india and bangladesh find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. But the river is also caught in water sharing conflict between india and bangladesh. Teesta river, sikkim, northern india installed capacity. After the construction, it lowered down to 2,000 3,000 cusec of water annually. Geopolitics is the study of the relationship between geographical factors and variables, and politics. However, the deal has fallen through when chief minister of west bengal mamata banerjee refused to comply with this new agreement, fearing the loss of higher volume of water especially during drier months would hamper the growth and prosperity of her ruling state. Apr, 2018 teesta river is lifeline of sikkim and makes a border between sikkim and west bengal before joining the brahmaputra as a tributary in bangladesh. At stake are the lives of countless people from west bengal and bangladesh who depend upon the river for survival. A general view of the teesta river is pictured at sevok, some 20 kms from siliguri, on september 8, 2011. Despite the derailment of the teesta negotiations in 2011, and prime minister sheikh hasinas inability to get the agreement signed by the principally willing modi government, she fought and won the 2018 bangladeshi general elections and came back to power in 2019.
River teesta originates at tso lamo, sikkim, flows through west bengal and then enters the rangpur division in bangladesh. Teesta water sharing agreement blogs, comments and archive news on. India and bangladesh in 1983 signed an agreement in which share of teesta was. The teesta valley in sikkim is rich in biodiversity, and the river provides livelihoods along its entire length of 393 km 245.
Will india and bangladesh soon come to a mutually acceptable water sharing agreement on the teesta river. India claims a share of 55 percent of the rivers water. Without any agreement with bangladesh, it has embarked on constructing dams and diverting water from many transboundary rivers such as teesta, gumti, khowai, dharla, dudkumar, monu etc. Teesta river, information about teesta river, teesta river. It is this phenomenon reduction of teestas flow during lean season. Teesta river originates from sikkim state of india and flows through northern west bengal and finally to bangladesh meeting jamunaread brahmaputra. December 26, 2018 bangladeshindia relationship has taken a giant leap forward and many unresolved issues like teesta river agreement should be done away with. Teesta water rights and international law the daily star. The paper focuses on the geopolitics of water conflicts of the teesta basin. Teesta water sharing agreement an obstacle in the india.
The teesta valley in sikkim is rich in biodiversity, and the river provides livelihoods along its entire. The teesta watersharing arrangement is likely to be one of the top concerns during sheikh hasinas upcoming trip to india. A geopolitical issue of india and bangladesh find, read and. However, sharing the waters of the teesta river, which originates in the himalayas and flows through sikkim and west bengal to merge with the brahmaputra in assam and jamuna in. To try and unpack the interests around water governance in the teesta basin, the analysis sought to identify and map key actors and stakeholders in the basin, their incentives. Why india and bangladesh need a resolution on teesta water sharing. Teesta has onesixteenth of water needed the third pole. The river originates in the himalayas, flows through sikkim and west bengal before entering into bangladesh. Successive governments were unable to strike a final deal on the watersharing agreement. Jun 03, 2015 teesta river is one of the 54 rivers shared by india and bangladesh. Political economy analysis of the teesta river basin. Shaikh hasina will face tremendous pressure from her country to push for an agreement on the teesta waters on her. However, sharing the waters of the teesta river, which originates in the himalayas and flows through sikkim and west bengal to merge with the brahmaputra in assam and jamuna in bangladesh, is perhaps the most contentious.
The controversy is about sharing of teesta water during the lean season. Teesta river water dispute neo ias current affairs plus. Hydropower sustainability assessment protocol hsap assessment stage. Teesta water is an absolute right of bangladesh, which is recognised by many international instruments and customary international law. Teesta resolution critical but likely to elude india and. Request pdf on may 1, 2019, natasha sinha and others published teesta river dispute. Geopolitics, myth and economics observer research foundation orf is a public policy thinktank that aims to influence formulation of policies for building a strong and prosperous india. Revisiting the teesta water dispute young bhartiya. However, the deal has fallen through when chief minister of west bengal mamata banerjee refused to comply with this new agreement, fearing the loss of higher volume of water especially during drier months would hamper the growth and prosperity of. The water management crisis of the teesta river glacierhub. Explore teesta water dispute profile at times of india for photos, videos and latest news of teesta water dispute. Mar 21, 2020 recently, prime minister narendra modi conveyed his hopes for the earliest solution to teesta water dispute to his bangladesh counterpart sheikh hasina.
Recently, prime minister narendra modi conveyed his hopes for the earliest solution to teesta water dispute to his bangladesh counterpart sheikh hasina. Kalyan rudra warns that ecological disturbances in the teesta basin are unwarranted. The indian prime ministers visit to bangladesh is considered a failure in public perception in bangladesh because his visit was much hyped as the heart of resolving longstanding water sharing issue on the teesta river. But, mamata banerjee is the sole hurdle to the teesta river water treaty for the past six years.
River water interestsdisputes with indias neighbours as. Teesta river is considered a lifeline of sikkim, a state in northeast india. The teesta river dispute makes headlines every time there is a bilateral talk between india and bangladesh. Teesta water sharing agreement latest breaking news, pictures, videos, and special reports from the economic times. Will india and bangladesh soon come to a mutually acceptable watersharing agreement on the teesta river.
To try and unpack the interests around water governance in the teesta basin, the analysis sought to identify and map key actors and. The interstate river water disputes act, 1956 irwd act is an act of the parliament of india enacted under article 262 of constitution of india on the eve of reorganization of states on linguistic basis to resolve the water disputes that would arise in the use, control and distribution of an interstate river or river valley. It forms the border between sikkim and west bengal. Teesta river or tista river is a 315 km 196 mi long river that rises in the eastern himalayas, flows through the indian states of sikkim and west bengal through bangladesh and enters the bay of bengal. The teesta dispute goes way back to 1947, when the boundary commission produced a report to demarcate the boundary between west bengal india and east pakistan formerly pakistan then bangladesh from 1971. Comment 5 the why and how of getting the teesta agreement. It is an important irrigation source for paddy farmers on both sides. Before the gajoldoba barrage during the late 1990s was constructed, it used to carry 6,0007,000 cusec of water into bangladesh. What are the disputes over indiabangladesh teesta deal. Indian prime minister manmohans visit to bangladesh september 6 has been clouded by the. The teesta river water issue between india and bangladesh. Bangladesh has sought an equitable distribution of teesta waters, on the lines of ganga water treaty of 1996.
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