Teesta Mega Plan work to begin after scrutiny

Despite a commitment to start implementing the Teesta Mega Plan this January, the work has not begun yet but will commence soon, Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said yesterday.

However, she did not specify when the work would begin.

Saying there was no reason for disappointment, Rizwana said both the Bangladesh and Chinese governments remain committed to the Teesta Mega Plan, which will be implemented after proper verification and scrutiny to avoid future mistakes and meet long-standing public expectations.

She spoke to the media after visiting erosion-affected areas along the Teesta shoal near the Teesta Bridge in Kaunia upazila of Rangpur.

Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen was also present.

“China is providing technical and financial support for the Teesta River management and large-scale development project. China is fully committed to implementing the Teesta Mega Plan. Today’s visit is an important part of that process,” Rizwana said.

She said protecting the lives and livelihoods of people living along the Teesta was a priority, noting that climate change has been severely affecting the region every year.

Rizwana said two key studies are currently underway, one technical to assess whether the feasibility study is fully accurate and effective, and the other financial to determine whether the large investment will be sustainable for the Chinese government.

Rizwana and the Chinese ambassador inspected erosion-affected areas adjacent to the Kaunia Bridge. Senior officials of the Bangladesh Water Development Board and the local administration were also present.

During the visit, they toured both banks of the Teesta River by boat and spoke with erosion-affected residents along the riverbanks.

Yao Wen said the visit would help shape future plans and expressed hope that implementation of the Teesta Mega Plan would begin very soon.

He also said there was no geopolitical pressure regarding the project and reaffirmed China’s commitment to completing the ongoing technical evaluation quickly.