Alarmed Mamata Warns of Dire Water Crisis: ‘No Water Left for Us if Teesta Shared with Bangladesh!’
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep concern over potential floods in north Bengal, with several rivers, including the Teesta, flowing at high levels. Reiterating her stance against sharing Teesta waters with Bangladesh, Banerjee stressed this arrangement would leave north Bengal without adequate water. Criticizing the Centre, she lamented the lack of involvement of the West Bengal government in the water-sharing negotiations with Bangladesh, highlighting the difference in river water levels between summer and the rainy season.
Banerjee raised questions about the Centre’s decision to approve multiple hydel power projects on the Teesta in Sikkim, noting there are currently 14 such projects. She pointed to the example of the Atrayee river—its waters diminished in West Bengal after dam constructions by Bangladesh and China. These remarks came almost two weeks post the visit of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a forthcoming visit of a technical team to Bangladesh to discuss Teesta river management. Banerjee had also communicated her concerns in a letter to Modi.
During an administrative meeting at the State Secretariat, Banerjee called for continuous monitoring of the flood threat and informed that nine flood shelters in Jalpaiguri were providing relief to 500 people. She lamented the State’s burden of handling runoff from neighboring states and despite significant expenditure on embankment repairs, relief remains elusive.
Banerjee urged the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) to notify the State before releasing dam water in South Bengal, advocating for a staggered release to avoid sudden floods. Emphasizing the need for reservoir dredging to increase water holding capacity, she also directed the State’s Chief Secretary to coordinate with various railway authorities to prevent waterlogging during the monsoon.
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/will-be-left-with-no-water-to-drink-if-teesta-water-is-shared-with-bangladesh-says-mamata/article68382245.ece
Category : West Bengal
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