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

Key Tributaries: The Rangit River is its most significant tributary, joining the Teesta in West Bengal.
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.

Teesta Water Sharing Deal

India and Bangladesh share 54 common rivers, but only two treaties have been signed: the Ganga Waters Treaty and the Kushiyara River Treaty. Other major rivers, such as the Teesta and Feni, are still under negotiation.
The Teesta Issue:
- In West Bengal, Teesta is considered the lifeline of half-a-dozen districts in North Bengal. Teesta is very important for those districts.
- Bangladesh has sought an “equitable” distribution of Teesta waters from India, on the lines of the Ganga Water Treaty of 1996 (an agreement to share surface waters at the Farakka Barrage near their mutual border), but to no avail.
- In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka generated some expectations to take forward to resolve the previous issues on fair and equitable water sharing agreement.
- But Teesta remains an unfinished project, as in India individual states have significant influence over transboundary agreements. This arrangement sometimes holds back the policymaking process.
Agreements:
- 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.
  - However, this agreement was never fully implemented.
- Both countries signed a water sharing treaty in 1996 which would look into water sharing between the two countries.
  - 1996 Ganges Water Treaty: Although this treaty primarily addressed the Ganges River, it set a precedent for bilateral cooperation on water-sharing between India and Bangladesh.
- Attempts at a Comprehensive Agreement:
  - In 2011, an attempt was made to resolve the dispute when Indian PM visited Bangladesh.
  - Proposed agreement aimed at allocating 37.5% of Teesta’s waters to Bangladesh and 42.5% to India.
  - However, West Bengal govt opposed it arguing that it would harm its agricultural interests.