'Realise water share from India before starting Teesta Project-2'

The cross mark shows the narrow stream in the Teesta near Teesta Barrage. The vast dried up areas on both sides are covered with sand. The photo was taken on Sunday.. PHOTO: STAR

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) allocated Tk 11.67.66 lakh for the project in January. Water Development Board (WDB) sources here said they are going to start the project work soon.

But water resources experts say, Bangladesh's due share of Teesta water should be ensured from India before that.

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Construction of the Main Teesta Barrage started on December 12, 1979 and it was inaugurated on August 5, 1990 after completion.

The project targeted to bring under irrigation five lakh 40 thousand hectors of land in 33 upazilas in Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Bogra and Joypurhat districts.

The project was completed by Bangladeshi engineers with financial assistance from Saudi Development Fund and Islamic Development Bank.

But after completion of the barrage at Doani on the border between Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts, India constructed Gogaldoba Barrage 80 kms in the upstream and started withdrawing water, making the Teesta virtually a stream in dry season.

Taking into consideration the financial aspect, the WDB decided to implement the rest of the project in two phases. Construction of the first phase was completed in 1996 with a target to irrigate one lakh 11 thousand 406 hectors of land.

But actually irrigation can not be provided to more than 30,000 hectares due to less flow in the Teesta, the experts said.

In the last couple of years, the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) held meetings but Bangladesh's share of the Teesta water could not be settled, they said.