TEESTA RIVER

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Context

The tourism department of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) resumed rafting in the Teesta river.

Details

Teesta River

• Teesta river is a major right bank tributary of the Brahmaputra (known as Jamuna in Bangladesh), flowing through India and Bangladesh.
• It is 414 km long with a total catchment area of 12,159 km2.

Origin

• It originates in the Himalayas near the Tso Lhamo Lake, in Sikkim and flows to the south through West Bengal before entering Bangladesh.
• Source: Pahurni glacier, Khangse glacier and ChhoLhamo Lake are also considered the sources of the Teesta River.

River basin

• The major portion of the river basin lies in India and only 17% of it is in Bangladesh.
• Teesta basin is home to around 30 million people, 2% in Sikkim, 27% in West Bengal; and 71% in northwest Bangladesh

Major Tributaries of Teesta River

• Left-bank Tributaries: Lachung Chhu, Chakung Chhu, Dik Chhu, Rani Khola and Rangpo Chhu.
• Right-bank Tributaries: Zemu Chhu, Rangyong Chhu and Rangit River.
• The river joins the Brahmaputra in Bangladesh before it flows into the Bay of Bengal after meeting with the Ganges and the Meghna.

Barrages and projects

• There are two large barrages on Teesta that diverts water for mainly irrigation purpose: one at Gajoldobha in India and the other at Duani in Bangladesh.
• Teesta -V Dam : 510MW, Gangtok district, Sikkim.
• Teesta III Dam : 1200 MW, Mangan district, Sikkim.
• Teesta Low Dam III : 132MW , Kalimpong district, West Bengal.
• Teesta Low Dam IV: 160MW, Kalimpong district, West Bengal
• Barakhata Teesta Barrage, Bangladesh.
• Teesta VI Dam: 500MW, Gangtok district, Sikkim.
• Rangit III Dam: On Greater Rangeet River which is a tributary of Teesta River. Output:60MW, Gyalshing district.
• Gati Hydropower Project: A 110 MW Gati Hydropower Project lies on River Rangpo, a tributary of River Teesta. Location Pakyong District in Sikkim
• Dikchu River Hydroelectric Power Project: Output: 96 MW on Dikchu River, tributary of River Teesta, Gangtok district, Sikkim.
• Madhya Bharat Power Corporation Limited : on Ranikhola, a tributary of Teesta, Output: 96MW Gangtok district, Sikkim.

Water sharing conflict

• Disputes over the appropriate allocation and development of the water resources of the river have remained a subject of conflict between India and Bangladesh for almost 35 years, with several bilateral agreements and rounds of talks failing to produce results.
• Negotiations have been going on since 1983.
• In 1983, a temporary solution had been worked out— Bangladesh would get 36%, India would get 39% while the rest of the water remained unallocated.
• Both countries signed a water sharing treaty in 1996 which would look into water sharing between the two countries.