Teesta River in Crisis: What is the Path to Solution?

Due to the damming and other activities by neighboring India, and the withdrawal of water through various schemes, the river’s flow in Bangladesh has virtually stopped during the dry season. Conversely, during the rainy season, when all the dam gates are opened, a huge amount of water enters Bangladesh, causing severe floods. These activities have led to an increase in the intensity and frequency of floods. Many acres of farmland and crops are being lost.

The problem of water management in Bangladesh today is also a major crisis for the country’s policymakers, who have added to the crisis by prioritizing short-term Tista management benefits. After a long period of effort, Bangladesh failed to secure a guaranteed share of Tista water and is now proceeding with a proposed project from a Chinese company.

But is this project alone capable of resolving the complex Tista crisis? Or, is it necessary to seek an alternative path? These questions are not just for the affected millions, but for all of Bangladesh.

The previous government kept the public in the dark about the proposed India-China project. Recently, a ‘Feasibility Study’ or ‘Sambhavyata Samiksha’ (Possibility Review) of the project has been obtained through limited efforts. The research on the proposed India-China Tista project, based on this review, has been published in this book. This book presents some suggestions by highlighting the alternative options for solving the Tista crisis. The definitive solution to the Tista crisis remains a shared concern and a task for everyone.