%PDF-1.7 1 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Outlines 2 0 R /Pages 3 0 R >> endobj 2 0 obj << /Type /Outlines /Count 0 >> endobj 3 0 obj << /Type /Pages /Kids [6 0 R 16 0 R 18 0 R ] /Count 3 /Resources << /ProcSet 4 0 R /Font << /F1 8 0 R /F2 9 0 R /F3 10 0 R /F4 11 0 R >> /XObject << /I1 22 0 R >> /ExtGState << /GS1 12 0 R /GS2 13 0 R /GS3 14 0 R /GS4 15 0 R >> >> /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 595.280 841.890] >> endobj 4 0 obj [/PDF /Text /ImageC ] endobj 5 0 obj << /Producer (dompdf 1.0.2 + CPDF) /CreationDate (D:20250510071827+00'00') /ModDate (D:20250510071827+00'00') >> endobj 6 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 595.280 841.890] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 7 0 R >> endobj 7 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 2262 >> stream xX]۶}_xFeDRdvmNljv:u "Q h&/= )zM3Rȋ{ϹYFn}WI+ٷ)vͣnAXe[ՂMuͅ터g_2$vW,^Mv [yV$x“L*֏hWv6Ej 8s+ÿ; TJjYɪ>ho@D-e~*:%'qnR(`z[;3΁uqֈg`w8 Ih4Jw86<,l`v#,ްЧF+(\K,t-W%m;B)MN< )>مma=-23BPE3VY5BeI@s润,Kn`87=7`N. h8#çls< &N[="e8!ҝW+8J !4$AGy<9EiCV @;G'xop @aesႳaQCGaҧi/n_)7c"ic|q&i. m6@DM!<E=xp~GO9,AH:DY!V36ȓ2>9finJ7  S;`?phX!:a_z=Ho1[tC+.{cBmp0z؝k> endobj 9 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F2 /BaseFont /Times-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 10 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F3 /BaseFont /Helvetica /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 11 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F4 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 12 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /CA 0.3 >> endobj 13 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 0.3 >> endobj 14 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /CA 1 >> endobj 15 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 1 >> endobj 16 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 595.280 841.890] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 17 0 R >> endobj 17 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 2556 >> stream xX]6}_,=&4mISAZmf$RKJv W p؇DzE{ν&M4ׯnwz-3I6_u%~q*'Ny޶od'^Ke/O1KfTbڢFTNR(=8כnBl9O֘U=E;Uk+dU K5 /*9D,?cXy2-b|~o{y+c3^&CAXӇv1168ϛ"b  T܉x" Ca+,*w|%եda?:TbENP-:["> (N! +#;x|UR):KRBQq|L1._n>lE)4V{*6Nm}PcAԪam|6D1$yx/$]((7]is^t#OTm#˧7+Mİ@4^QIz} WvU2E@O}~Z+QXt5 lγ#05;BNlT"Wʁ}1@@Fnk!0X 'hPV'NٝϨbb2CWh luN 7s RJ$ & F5H~UMec0&]]CyhS"dNnjzmU"{dg?;c !ey?53[tQ&grW`)@|1D,{aX@U(q<5UP7h)]A@[4щ2 f"4A='B58reϷtF@ၴDl90r>X ?412ڜMm('2E<5Cx@᥂bYt%+ZDE(;u'Ny"5 86m5~<"k+2GشĎiy"J{ \:l3*ɣXslJ xcj1PTlNFo:2ZPqcHƑ꽃Zc~sH78$mh%LL}WIbyEm}3S{pK.JaYMcs+"})MP o d4fwiI#AT;w뇻w|]vƑ=: Ș?TisUƼgzG & 7]]kYק&&9b5hwض #;PqhpTk8}l(44Y>6Th<: _FbgNjÞ!*?kf)7gdQ!R5uDp:L.-R1rwQ3 V5*?6XG\Q@~(f4>!q$\~Oa54J!DJ fokfP+[%)1@E,   VL0>03@ G tBAb5'cb~^j݄8OTh_*h|S!":qaeCWC¡;pMx~jfIb|_4~uŇ7ep-gI\ɂo/Kދ (le`ku^ w.޿z:E1Kp ߸ =="4R}DpM\܆p)[̒ }vQgln~x[&vszdΌDZe=c.|ʾT! WZ~:lSmϜr~lp,eL^b~Ou?pCFO 4$̋EJgA~l k_ l endstream endobj 18 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 595.280 841.890] /Parent 3 0 R /Annots [ 20 0 R ] /Contents 19 0 R >> endobj 19 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 859 >> stream xU]:}W㭴l[F>8F;w& &G x8R ˫- hĔ8Mw'6;/uz;֪p5꾃:}%{8>RA.2#XPUW=TVW^},5XєW-UG'bU{mGCoΤ {NδBl:%C"(I#sSm ZVj[nD-NTCV+'u_Vcf,R9Ib1{t4j0m;k`j{Unj. Xɶ$0<5Kz1 HptKʹ$'Z;{`$8+L ," fDç{Wb'HC{oMs?D1cޛ-+q$iECwhKANfg%hcˠ0%IƁ'פ,?j|<ic1ip)|,rm~fJ%gH,CxURNЗV~]*́߃S',}C<:R+ZO|)z5J# dD3gf&B]8SC/fxZa?# b>\"WEa݈i7\nYEPQ:]"zZ&%NDy\ĠXb)DgGR9 O0zkc3Y꺽- endstream endobj 20 0 obj << /Type /Annot /Subtype /Link /A 21 0 R /Border [0 0 0] /H /I /Rect [ 309.7880 717.0807 315.7187 727.9340 ] >> endobj 21 0 obj << /Type /Action >> endobj 22 0 obj << /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 860 /Height 484 /ColorSpace /DeviceRGB /Filter /DCTDecode /BitsPerComponent 8 /Length 80497>> stream JFIF``C     C   \ \H"A00d2!D"13D)B HbDtAT&P m&bQ$@ncU!`2@ (bSddu!C!T SHY6(DP"EbEsA(bQ t0"& 5`  (6 i CTPmtQ *V0X@BXUt51"Q1pL2@1H@q]0#(H@!@ "1c[7f(XVDAbRD'J,0 b@09,Z+H H)@* 9tnk(@:B"(tQ"" }hj qoT*>CዛޞN%S%!P&! 1c D S"c]6P""T@P B(aJ|g}KO+;]5ޚ_>O!o)Ԇ8 RH CBk3 Dh"@D)WOeގTU1x`k-[ʓAlZӯn^ϧO9rE]޿OoN2ȑ*p`!1R %\vt+(QQԪut"5̚܂b!jv=P./unxg^?JcwNM+aejYY)^>g:Y5rf'}k^3x;}^7߻v K%X37Ҩi::4_OMyF,F85K(Ývrxۉ[0aōy] !h:+땻=ne֩If8Ri8%OM%\ac5וUZʺyW,Wr.vV.8SWXټٝco? ͠bիMt8vm/O;gYQt򿭷ޘSu$ͭTl]*DJȚ@sY2&L^I7I!gYeɝLij=nib˼⫬mXNֳ'7M ʹ <\ۼb\;ql.j8gyh[nY]vԍfן`YFgE5-136q:"1bҔIKtn5.rv"DLr15^RmsS0,YrfC*([OsyH-% 8ITyFQsB+2ɧj^]McȘ%ʒӧeU..w^ʂlTpBwT.WUH KsSft306"D ^Y3ɨ2$Y3f:PrWui3I]ms*n%` f.c0yd"I"9{Qʡ"gNT Aoa0~Ir$SY $eiD6zM@lMDJa -c],PQpqojg9Ϳlng;2WCs~3r 0+ QHW'65`%@t(bVQsqIE,A&Ha ZH` $B!V)J*j"dkiBYeb1MseFy|9ؙRsyy1nbI*{F#pxK4%:1ՋzInH3XA&zѡqUMP`Y(!hEJH-b+J˄@EVb^RV"{H%ysG~':V,#&ң1U5̖u[v!ONG}Swe|љ>ܶGк&9OC-IΗ6BS]]J:zruϷbϘN>O?W=Qh$c"**+)\^v[6 I3 MVB qYpjdbjB`0"IQZqg^cLp;Gsd׹اO9s=C /vJ|ۣ?FߟXGnŝV= n^[ .wwHd" *(ciHdK i( 5A!@o G svoXϾ=:RaIaa1 W^y|>GJ@Eb D%H@%c\FA40c",@H(PGVF!&ߏ6ӷ65:~csj8fxυ|s]`0(00!#LnzUw6׼֑kv cŐ)B p ЦĨ,2 5BFh Ue^ &{*$g-ln|O7k>ދzg䆡r(!U$ 5#=2H gII!CD0 f!:fo珞\oOo~=ʦu~ "`\[@O;DQb`0T +T./=|WF~} 9uέ<=to]Njv@e(|"V?/<:77n{ Bv{BS"Z042E)d4,C"IXTA@1k1"DAT x3\*z-s;_mXלsyl}|ϙ} G|py_-<:>yzX!5ζ]K}y2dW% (Q[AV1 J4 &$!+\q2yƴjzyrZ^45 3c9Qzޱ\ގ}_sB'4ؼަJNDe!- Z"XMd2H,%ВQ@0PA$hH%i̯6aq]|j뚛Y DzcelܮjWyӆ8_cAYiAajQX5v4nԚIV! ! P W[hfI5IhdI("`!0l6fJA9]<^E=AS26k8s+s:_;gsxïߌȧ=8xdL|}m箎XMy,o[GZ9\{\ by%m$HͶ$CCDD!"{UV,bӔuW^wK+~d:όg.j,cvvps=sf.Mz՜zNj||\O˖ƴmwĉgl 2*2#6*KjPx  &@D)BCKD Zϟs}_e,s:|vtcܾ|o[ѪƷߝ^n:]ux,H122:&̀ @0!Qt!H+޸=D}Qz__罸T$E 'k1b  DQ/󜵌ro^=NܲY7!4i손ʜs:Z.z%]<3Lϕyy NGm?WA@i9JcC2$Hd C"h1@@00Y]b\ڴrN}.Q^D03<'O+Ǭx?__9CÌ[}G@0d}"dD"#"!$ $!$0!Xd h DDXH͇3rPQ]g^RuD*Ɍ鏦|zp<ܘ<2}e]{z6ߪwqV*Dd b1P#9"E L`XL@D@  1 dDrx![DR:=3\ۤi$B'R dJ-;o[O~އtA\uwԥh@OFDd1 @C),¡d "ed2$c$H@DJD yarfY~wnut)PB2oE{!Kwcy>;ήbHK@!#/ V2D  $5($@DC/z6թvLN7=Wu`D1Uf2GOw~?UWO^[矖c:;}9ĬC@HdH@@dDbe,fMLDd@(szHc+9 4h"@D\R@϶<#{]e=95MYݮ8~fggVv.jϤa DC#$D &*RڹfKLDc!9<:gڝEBZYy9oLJP.9y̜MVϋ]=*Q'Ϭ ȑ!  2DFLfdHb@b]-$f 8p`!B˕mo{!0dkR4淛~8t4^^rrŬF<`Dd!J0&1&D" Fկ+"qyL1du*EkMPZ!$H "Lxȷcܧ2:gyzD0 !"01A#2@4$BC3Po۹x$s~z-dze~Mmw߳}Op~ ?o߹~o/vo7ss}77߷s~Yno*~f7OSQٿſϹfqUp1鹸sQeٴYlZ9̺u]Gsssss}777}9Sno~Oj漹g5uPVOi-WXwW]lOP w[>]w7Mw߷sssssss~@z۹fg53<5{yj~+7UkW&]vYV[2Ae5relvA}Hxxo>WzSCQ5Kщ^o+~t=3@~Ԛ'r#YG^P~km.AV{W2.}ċ.n;UcT[Y`;{}uy?(OvX'Cm-XeL{<;nܮo%amWad?>DxܕwbV &_ǃ"\.G?%zĺ1ygHßn, EFQ|n];KP;m}f7$nd$rMU7 -UJ7TF>6ŵ-cK;M+F],iryA8܁܊=5kPMO8vT[<~*W0+o};'e>LKh~ELZ-vsk6;f`=mݠ)Oxمxl, y<<_rgޛ,o\ݸ&hF= -\; LzvM _9ເ|1&̿.,Z2R؊'w4y5RL~JrnߜM_?7+@U,e_FͻVݫWieo d f Ծf3/SiBoz,ʮJmLx%WawS0 ":ҬccKr{#!b;x-Cĭ=*Fz'լ~>(cpu"JԼO=71أq : +vK+ò:) =~rQ[CrS!T>WtLQͦQY 5JjUi_-f2u'kb ˷1驋\w]7@oϳ#{{oI+mV'Ӻ`6VDe.߸c힖*-"f6}nOu͙,fBiQ=V;lA|UР]x ts[ZX;glԿW<3PTE= Ѵ{jb2Vz &Irʎ[廵,[dAVDVTGT &x pjǖz8iZI>x9V+wv[gox?~9ilwq]&( f/S·ebUq*UvYkʩ@o~_nGp},ֻ vFk.u7;h ̈́ n8xxU=ڧh,V!oIc㲞 cMRš;Ew'ܷPk<)֋77_8 P:_+D Y(PY֋kG:smv5o[8T[q4~?M>{pІ]ѩf5?Sek C\n1#q?–sc65̃~Sv 2UjڦY%08D l0z(ʫa\FP`|+8mlYa 2U3[7 ;6H0vѵBjjv!.WAZַrlD q C1}y|"-EV??QbBН`Y@"^j5t&]v\4{P"2RGD0(SCMX߶6Uw3Gs{<|YƻN]ϯLT ;όFc7lmC^o6Ō}Ӹz?}}>lxV#ƕ%E'iLR; ػ!(7Nґߍ66A u߱C J ?{02Ne GzL`̳, D¸njeW@lçcW-Rوս3.eoT4gnwM⺦,Q]0|(TwOXsaX+Yئ/r?$u7i 0,t;c–;lNƁZ}p}fC.?y-=9;a-6ӈ_EU^B[Zwl~ +kCSSL"s,W`Tk-ocnИ?kpU@t mn=Svvjݗ&(x]?1uh!)P61UF?iW<BQ;7104OUBٌ`ܒ 5P,3 +MjJ2C |m+&k={]Mw7Q<EYksw̟{)ST#S)= .>aԳ62.Ȯx0&"c9RV`jXnd nM+᪊ F`Ȧ0?y=ٹa_)'xVG/0ՙ=>E,ͶS긹TJu6L3Z ;:X/'"yD.]NM'vp|ܯ;5rmx̧3H3k;Z2lcOtn=>"]WCZERg٥Tfɫ8qƮ66Vk߹fw$+yP@;-- MX-;>8w6K1{Q{ww;Xu,l\veQmܦާN R |>>UcWgyهS" 9ʭjfO7c V%WW]wr7$`l;/v/7>+xHf׾Ǻmk642W?'*dB]3۟l3,.%q)W|9=?e=%pT'hZ L=r5QӮqiy,,)KGJ8ӇcrP'/-x+Rqp9n=JbSTO^y]+PydU(DZ[`e{i]_MM/ݱ#t*\`Ѵ&ϙKk[bWUm Eb|ۯ`+=ۛ鹿N'hF5ulT gYR ߿o%}7̎█&m]qSdUR;GrSU7-Jwg*^پĉӸ4JV@t߰ofnnoMB7-æw K˾l_ ȡON3*bت1CYPJ"AfʹZppnaZq*{a 755Cvn1B'ϼۿgtٸL"jv+dLdvKF YK.Z cd?,(J>ǰeJy}&N#ڗ}D\pFDkT_~COl cw~k9O'(04nw'j.7q!qr͊suq6*_Mm6$\%~pey5};W~UiC w >%܍5GhQo:fLO5|5$JaO1-* qܢ4[Pr\h2o'zCYb{vBQ5qy*MFqW*x3`C.y V"gSh%v_foٯnnow6ӻQcq=H&ԇ׀2Q< "8jKn#'f'N"fSѓȾfW*Ung>_.CKaErLL^J#ԥfz Ut7%ɶ%^)DO5tZTw!Q~7r\eܱߍ>b^bhSxj);u,dUw;zߝnTjڞɦ,1H#WRk闕K:O9ɝ}j;w3qW3ǵl,l LC#mXɭN/5Si.j4[ۛ[do&l 38jOTV+z8 `Ӈ3>>Rz06Y`[UMir̷"/.S@xݼWq3*ͯm3\Ϗ۟TF4nf[ ¯"$46jy ?7~/]˯{648VYQp,qk>Kf\luΖAK*ze;2caWL@Zs=Vq/rWk?h.m؆kkaHm[w> zVp#-Ie[YXwWv?߻S]5~Mс3 #GJ;T7ș\%~;cƧMW BeW,Tk'.tlAg64O{A,K1F#m=`_kuyhQCh?57;빿777777sss}]߻}wjhBhVO[ZbܓpNq9PrM^~C5  ݲqܩyqzU*â^ϲ*Qɺ];pYόX~WV>D2ӼM'w7]wF˭[< kϯ#567cSɦ\\ktyF=3M%Y6[f:=^n_w VX1m#/ Wcbd@i*؋U,m]q*5JIO+Ms}w5&!kHD 9 )/?%>Գ.񏚳_㏷"ȯo-7QEYLLyf0NV],w|9T7H09 fnvKxpqn9VK+s7c?9M]t&no۹[~[.#\8 |i}igBz#d)Xg#w9 }4[FJ׾UW7c˵(J~]]ݭ]"5vpv e_In)9rJ`;߻}7 eԭh|C>EݿglӴ e[ f ,V]/,%>m\&lpqq՗y*Wgp=5"rV-t%bK+UlVY{55Ms}7}777>pL3y`I#MIp~fV?ruddɩ/[);/W} y"e30K@|!\Ck%97ƺh+R ߓDdj5 r1{77߿M-== 99U2NBԦg>G R[>F_mѯOE~Ey\{k<( rڜf8UZ̳u=Ai+OS;g`ݡ[NC;ss}777=Ni7JvZ|Ԣk۹>6-C7 ]u"[KQaߋyzǮj #[M_=7͒?=w77ptMMߠv @rdq⺽-a^?NBrn"5wlkAhLiR}-A+~>w鹹Y߷~ac6!X6(y^0SXHgoFX730|N6fV`{MvLT𧎒x̍a~zh]了1&wj@AkT|k/IkYASvrhCB~ҳ]SOC-4vb޺릷;}7vr4ccXX;zl*ǴR`闌2rϰ90MD0_$op4,big 79;뮆f;wM.O5]驯aQȧfa\rʥxղ(2d&EkN)Q\}onL:}N N@`# A^߿~5Ufb֢~8 qnnoXG?-6 SW+-Kc0SШec307wBgww` 2]Ư\y=Cؕ4+#L߳n(`fn4s,$w6sV奯櫊Ť45}9LOSzxL߻pMM*0q?7\k;tm#I[t>7ԙ빹ѵXֿ$dmنh|U+x{͍iofo] ll?'5-xx|>bKL9YƣH\~(빹:[;:K5 l=ŭŨjn+!Sz5gxE->Btv?AN5R]Hcz2r-J}[T+rqa+1r]ay8gI.`>~:oS~pM wM~5;6'c27jOn48+|{o,ܽe3_&NٔMn( !01@P`"2AQa?Ww=_UtN]9EYi e)JRl9G"ޓkȣ> bAPttOVONG9D'vO)uNG2ꔥ.!3'D!Ą#f=S9"8N' NXq]/]d71 i<)KmlP Xnj'kRlY)){ wҋ4%Փpr^HB!5P;՟6OoȘ}:=#!BHhb5"D!鐄FK&8KPDD&x'0aѢ HJ_Gi"c'P!'KTUqrtb83&b|n ퟅt NIBO+]&"Px&XBHzz[zQL)} ^t$B""!p8N]KBPVޡAjy8L!:"^Z! Z^ i~2"{W_u{E}5mz_T?t>7 ]{<1t^7t/\Q;_Sd&Xץ]Y?Q?J_czWy8~6XN'8 <npKmG1}oPҢ[i LmPtq8LF8z|ز?CG-;dphɶ"!OՆ?bB T2?yCB9 c20~=iB!B'HBYuo$qNa ~UJQ1d&838131fs2G,wzRS,HXc #IGBQ,4!5V'HqBh81-,9R}<<G!,+D^*Ljmkő?z'm ZC9#3'Lgэj38}~DV RC]Ab,G2q30%}G#ȈG ^Z}8Ed$% ,e$=s;b2NRz&1^G}z/?Mbm "9mjk&[OD8H$4Jq! tL2cMq&Pq8)`<A_\>LtC8]BȷP=s!B!BB>R~LFT}1~5LDG$&5G:#G# r8Hy2ܣY>It#0ʘ8L/2+J,Ct/B12E1Yk,FYB_'3_CUBOĺ{Z}юّ5<ɦbB'bᗑ($Aj!㥐LfN~ˬHD!N0{^L'jkדOkkG}8Z0?(/ b/k?bƜN(K}B?BlX|T?^^&f,iYg$C-_93ֲKLctIJQB:^d`ޞKb]>ᾨpDCSDW/[x2Sп^Nr9]#}k>_}uw1a* !01@P"A`2QpBa?Qc=Shq)pU*K> [r$lUlԪȥ|}"`upu*ț(fR+235u9"JEm&- ٕZnm1 8**yߓ/J7FYK2I1>O&K)I$d!IM$r" \JԧM$^흈bET%@<i4a(Tt`bbbFi$nGԹGMw6;T~[۪EK< |WK m)ى"EIO<mS4,T`}I$M22222$N$\du-6RK\    ^HI$I$I&I6jJ4(LD. }Z2iMSTz|ldZ1;$E}K$}Nx*Q>U;-٨b)I$ɉdA^UK>>SDn]I$Q &DI7d:MRiM(ԓ|I$OLy&I=cLRȉ,LV(nZk[K'Nx4H#t;& 䒑 $A$̪+UY'LѡRz seh"Hv@1+MEJԚ KG'I&|#Eם]-FL5O"D_0Y;F"rki~hb*DuAb  h8e]Y rRJ%uwx ON'2j,D JuU> sNT}]wgˮo6[#"I2*\9Brph dprL˥^JU2vLNzdO& ϥ$I$y'lI$I$$I$I'b,W_'vZJY7l+bb@6#ɉWBRci2'VI7bW54d'gh< nUS) LNP6dI$I$Э|$e7nv+2H$Uf2YMWbD egUvsF$YKEj*t;p4#*j)r1t.̣_ElcB23dGd̒N'FEU(#+AZ24ĠI;6nloD6j1% b??#ʭ$/#ħVJAO S[]Q:J-fRI${C9*Y.vݖu[YM'")Tƍ7-6d+;-I$U+r:dJme\x?;#+.X( ;V-짱lJxV [KUClDY)jFx#I$II$I'ڍϑPx<4S謧":GARRhI;ڒġ[_(1DYRi˻|C".E+C!1"2AQaq #3BR0@br4P`$SѢCD?5T)?6T{G1,!|6x\r_bMFDwہճ描$59\qgh` ,a𪵩\N]hZ=+[D3C`y-f1XC0r+w.H?ΣG"{N)F7خ~pÈ9ۖH[轫Y i!NebCB1+vzoxN0"w(>X1N,%:xA;An*JQ7#JEWG/Ç~b?RWW4WW _1~O~O~RS<#wߵ$qPjJN:![ebwPci.'Zzd2{5Iq.!GoM)6‰vNҹX{`X! ۡw3|c{+~pV Ź4@D42/rSjR_d0Xn\-< TyQ-ri)'IepM,o0% { 7hVtd d)c1T;-CRo6;> bf fDB @`}B"g4RM qwghh4ƾiOi׫Y3l. ^]-=.OOFH{WygmxPoPg|%1;Ca,t+ R䁞s- S ) C쎹VVZzCX 9 n#U /N7戥j&vvZ5ux C ĭ!4xઇ?Y Xڔ~!xJe Uh,\+"e s8[@܉}Ry-^jbHVX.w^\>]h+;.rQwQR @ܱ8 Ϛ9$0kid˳P(A#|#4{K6 :(e9U}3,b.s6f.&iX,O]QmL$2' WSBz'?Ȕa72@=JPbХ@Zn59&J.hqX$  ˂nJYbBYk5TA[%dVDt,L4[MiEuZdڔ<[R&ZB^|y @ٶ!Z{Ҷ9bbյ-du ;J>ŽV7ђuwn^MozUOU9 YU OqNP9H9&]0M>Hɞ+977XpH䝺rF;kѨNF< ]9ik# DnC#)iRb UM]TX5)uV{^Aj8;;zs+2!Auv_@a4'"^=Ќ=U>JmD" 7Gjpi(\z+FD<((5!a74\(!j{|ԗZGD&K;CO|4@ :)x>"wڄq (8OOsYfMߣ-BPjR7]>Z3Mۋu۸ H D+VҨ]uDYrY_mǚpY4(-dd=G" %AIYx64VKel5 nRZaoǠ^jjفf*cdBYɪtZ>F')Phĩz Wr h)E !l8޲wf,Hvlz,9pCOSR9#qPTCY)HZ:?xJY;gೝ$d\j[5M*!Wj-aK"- 9 5{TZR] qP$u[@e*3Dܬ^Hu dHW|r(c "^"=Jd~#nӭ ߞ.!pp*5MS9nMMyg孌 AUٱDߙFC4 _B-eG>.Ԭ嚱Pe@q%ӖrV*bBYiߣig첕F%UN+cgYݥJzu}U5IW'O Q4Uyjs]jZ})/z5{ڤp ZXP%)_ŕ1ъŝp+TzP 6)OAEmT՝@\y5D-OXJ⥭}VֿDz :l([tM5(˖Aeq d\Clp+zN鞜{ϢJU޽㗽z-adp4}B^V>A{ٛԩm_iPhk~*;,?3Q(YZHI Z}V}kK&=C4j|߈&P*IY|$Ϛ~([K]ЫB"cKX Q)һ`y,F^sRj]ݙZ%k3XCcڒުk7f߼;Ds[Em8yzfYy/y+j:9jm=i-jx+{MVW,w榿xkz1_9EUҳh}V-g!`0JˈW%kyPݴ/vEfS[4V[$,0So25G&RQQԪM% ,ثNډ楮z}J iٚ`ZjٯsFf j"IDɧ0O)OôÉz02 cW>52zhk\9ЭWUifMN{ڕ:ioW'rOfdՖ(sWR ngU :yqY`#ӛwh 5FEs7;!{<׼g:.4-gz[Q\8RVNWekSVZ-E8[W Voˡl>,' ?M՘<[[+5g ֺC*s* PN(=|o-({Zg 5KQR/nR'u&&RK!JYߢÒꎇxN} Vy-<>Jޫw Բ>a iP]Pc>kۢorVEvFpq9VhV{]~ϒk*l^sQÉ*꽕,\ ' {@fʱ)PP* ִ&U,I8X/erkZu~\:Li]r824sPn8piS2>oPmP}r{EKeն)cܷi\ )"V,z--,(90m1CL9C `k{ u 椦^(Ҭ{Gcv?7hu7@/}Yt ]Hag,U(GՋjlS2+U.H+zxO hoPp5wi] hYPVpS 퐬 N_M+d+K蕌Sl dG,!iw5;MJ/9"N86fD V cqyx{h=ޮU;Vy-J%K\ڷ+NZ+QF?'A J-]wUNveg^*M2*t@uM%7,y,.Dunݸ## Z̷%I.QG4p[WjGA8"a9!8{J)/`)&|' "egx G{LX PpqCx}CJ'NVC95e*Xdrܤiޜ$p9aw"TZڇoN{-&Aދa:[{-#szjǚohaq  %]Yu-oXq7`nBhjWu3I_VKft Z4o]Ѩ1]ٞzL9ӜV6$30/aqm7oHTpʳ,B(dT7,.-9 ig%`9JjzN[*4b'~wz-tZ\x-W鸽%^hQ{Jچa䦣 dsZݣ.!bwiQ>@Q{ݹ4Ӧ[ 3;z4ՙvTivl]I (Pܞl8ľ ̦Ul uB'vh4L,=! vX0p]ةiAgiBzikA;}bPdE+m'HxRY%ejr8  _QQ#kZlKӃ\֟˚pjy;(.BM ngGv\a:cgI ~'{;`۷9n]>jei5$B4=P#`안lw~cdm4kHTڍkeuIH`= ?heS*3yQ/,ü޵M0:8gܱZ9Kp ŹM&4f`\Zwq sx5٩~_rM{<í7.{jTmZu9?;,-wO;<5d ̅;v)DŌHܦݎsjİ֠ZŽn?$-}b<[U VӮeB SAsr3ŻjW 9?B3!nb"FV]8^ʙsShMė_4[fh‰HV:4*~D<5ba6Fv(uD;Zςհ[xo8mAX{'\3O}G~#q+WcqpJ6!&)їTwDpφ Vs}Cy䁢{ɱ ֋thZCNnxiZN M;ej{7ý| ΞNWHr+b-bVIlɝ蹬 6^|?r ,8ŗ sY;beڹjbAGsKq-h٨1Vֿ4 V2O07f"e5Q/29x]J5E}pÊsZr8;ڱ 9]nE\/jƇy Z %. ?i,a)EshF(J$뼢niړ=BeQ ߽a1D{nT )xS*XV&1!@XoʚQ‹*AӠhEفQ% uσYl$rS$+T'PE'<10R8j7꡸P/"Boc3rݿ-m,.i5-~Qv@cŢ_h' s}M豭!ۚH%Y>H{Hܛ5U& B/18N{05JÑQ">x X8g!\&;6e7~|]0p*VcIl a,BYoM*b~oz#[$lGܲ0$'+ìbT!gJ40I]RذXn!%XN(Vz*s9"\8 4n@ ZNe ZnESz xXjǶpl :x'@U''osk*΅g=7~8bW} ]v< I7YN*pV[-S=0w-ͤw=VZ5DኯVnLTe,œ[X`(m]U[xMx!}mM{]!v ޳ṏ@`aqL16X|Ru ~*e@hb-TJ lg~i)Wѯպ!q+`+۪ݭ2s[4[%l(eG 2ޫu9d4L+ 2ࡋ7?\pß[rj![YxoGhx&ӦjwH F۶QqĺlwƓ#m6*#E 9ђ*C9' [ l~'F<9齑+yxX+ &TZ sMj "7p 6]wz ~h-;Ceo߮Vw]ʓ8XA }K%uN6\ʒɌ)f@tĚ[=mNhivN5Xv[PM5٦ǒ>;-mFK%!A|!_z>."}FV`LTnܪ-٪ 1Np|o54NtV?yŹO|M6g#P~BT'8Eq'`\)!1AQaq 0@?! A5. ]5reM%_MK/K,xzĴ}K=Ez/[2ZE}2opܹԋ\)7m]~ /󹾘Kяf*먿̥rY,}/\b,r B]~L.!:WLL~˗˩̺/Tz F_G}V.zE[[sb4Cz. e_.u 鮡r˗._K.\.gq.7wt]?!z_EC%H f*Krˋ.\Xe@(üY}\Ȅ!.s3=/[Ը@Ը8ܹr˘:Y}RYԷ¼\0TP8u /=68vC,ԥJuĶ[-‹,gLg7+scK8r˗5.[.\^]_E/ŗ zKkX/˗6}yu20 ǩ܉[_7rs#U`feqNQ1ژ{O} +<Z$'K $3D+ԹpϞ.7.]Lr.\i .\??de辗/ũt.bݝEߩ'@/ڮЋfmIbO`T@fRnq"(8!gAOw3/| Y9\(/%2coqlo)q+gZg!WK#EŲbO$;3/l.\Cȼz}._K._p4 ǷJ%SHIcpϘ5* ̻EX=/(=+x"N[שUn;vL|c[!xqQuPsj1ЬXF`K Ua+}Pݳxxqj6"E0"W}аG- |`J/N"(^w sB.[|]cD`%;㿈E2M5Yo |mq}؅(<ܢj)qSf%T=wv1K/Xi.N,*_kRaxSxT5u-2D-P绉PުUEz{B|[ڞXIJMG-ټFd-F噖'k̯VFdX_fcdQ zjT̆IVjx@ݍK7P K❜~R,>ʆ9l4Gk/̵.JZƈ`l.>;ٸN˂(̧jcD`1Va̷ObTW0CSpcr]J*9ɛ1eޔYw1pō Pf!H\41\%wG6x9y cAC|͌4 m~&0qoiTZb a:_xLݻSK -݀y (o3e9΢Fs3RU@ˡ˘k9j54;$#0HB(/c)qof$u%nԦƽ{pY:j9'*(8VT 5j!76y 8JQ[.S(T_W9{%"ģPVR`Q",`[2ѐo,K(|,1aˬ U5zef=mi+[3-)> F5`Y!!~\1tDK,3PAyn>(E V̸8iN 8MQr̚*Bj1VL:c:]ĭƧ`OhWKtu{L<'\XaYeKt5u/$C-i|AS"8G4ٸaḆq"c$C[AvrTj#Y|LArg`h(Uڴ 1ci9/p[Xjn#u3(]|gs$t!hQPCJO+e`duL(qTV88eHD,'aT{"u1KrupqQvv剬Q+g U([=~ sq<ٗ砶#quLSJSc&ʭ +(|Eb⹏W(L=J;c}D'f8S14 TԳO-wZܳNZ`s9dDf!Krqp k-Zyfe5bR`2[ͱaK,[bHedηYD:7%NDo!C'vʘZ熢!Q 𕨾y3%Ty*/0S){H 5vYY7j`{H F"mX?03l4*P2Tģ7|1;lx3ǩɷ lp_WijcH8kXbRa+y!n\DG]^LA0x"DmquhcQ?oY.6)Q.w1@y˔6/z#Jφ ;V~DmKsGp%MT4}3sCR.]_bd2SwA;U%WnĘEc/, 6gB#Jħi$`\;B+̺,CxP2^UǗ{vZإ=s(J1^KMiYl.)n-TN qFo%A-bqE@0;.ZbB4X՞`STzB+`AjsP ( \LO ~`e>bVa[_#R@kNY#?BRGc_T":}DV`ד,іܜMZQE ev IQFck= 8Ng ;D8mD3mJBW;:"W-*VJ`LT%Ӏ#Urj Y @#=fW =fR, @֥3?K@J.[4=$ .aqnX*PXf=d\;ÙXƠ*07kdNS3Pfoq uQtF,$i]×+|ȯWA#D6vc/c4R?g{^ @%Xf1KS}T~Rz/?P熦p2 d>5[;˨DV)χ!+ *y<Ȟ$¯QG{Ndc-CRgʌk̟M@OfFؓqYi [K f?ޞPNoWw14ieõ!6b4Ĥ|Bm+,RvmkG GV+1qbA+\ܵ^@Go>:,84@& "ŕ3*>D/)nęA,&x>ŏM>tXg(C)rC 2##+B=D53@z[F$,\+/`6j18"A++3Q^H\;Gg(*%Ehʳl  ["ICTw~ _cS_A"KC$!ᕠ̵xo)/ 4KKE>xQ5r˒@K0D\=pT!言f !3[eĦ1>dT|zrl@%8+/z  ?p0wC_%S@5Qك jJ.vq]8LTv1;dE]рK6c53 ̼.Rj%K80ôZxTUԞVeH8K\PrM7̱Ft\$ 5e_kRzF*_~J =^% Qg-O)0BU0_$Ww(+FTW$f/l"iIA>8 U`LD1λ,> W$V.j ޡXE&~D(<`Y? w^8mJq5|HZ\Jn@6eIis4Lf_ &{#/_liL|\ _s'V!]YUk1)R`s -'g0xjv@D-.l FTxUʽ1\*;pbG}%q/e 9L= q$Jgu3+Y2vL|\Vf&QPˏCb\ Y#k5^vlI 5r3|1Kм3OaOi@.g盎(xZ_bKߑ `J]yH'ĊKw|JO/eKy)p`, x*Wa#ÄpP6޶Sf,DhQW"s|4+`ó,TB+1L|m.s=~'T ;aYZ?͓fuxbFyhyy/ fhH 5p]OT[e~10vvV~W5v%|Vуm!n.˒P,(אRSc"B{?!< e-j33AA|"[uImLjݿ;Cd )/@?Dqڔm%T'%AvQar ,yuP@T]ߜfw ϻte}o`B['<)ZxN" v a+3Ɉ9}*y҈zKLQ@Ӵ;1 WlgǢ~%O[x*_יb^7'!h5 ſQM)\n*Vy@ )]c*9ηSJ$]k5<=jQj xC {7;s ;G<HpY.XLzseZ=rx=r4x6ͪ}k|28Q-RWψ/Dw50tr 4 OKGbyŐ8~HuG3~ʨt Cr/!\ Fȱ`Q}Y35 A׼vXB-+[Ĺ̈T @fR`qnw^6`*o'wF}d&lC3j=#V&RRb6WuFū]eZ(-bKh.XsDc!sv|ʖLVF)자d~G "<3)-.R)r\z K֏%~a..gdac=.w>z,krܹdN3*,:|tI%ɿԵ[w\Ѵ 0TiĮ0H.9kN,G9n)v LOw;; ,腿bHR~AV|v* ? bo!n_0`7qfX!*|糸{FGTeBY?䋏ԃ|00MB\įloQdjccRV5OMK_/DPPv< ,c?R2OH% e\98s}*WF==8Gqdr*~-O-C{PveY.dF{qy\̶X{C2"W3c*hL.$L{̪pXsLϷM/ۮe%cgv.0 ?2=&0֗}w2y-&v~gs)JюC3ŭIEb_Q<Ƕ3OK`=lX")( N8.W(ŚՁbȶse˛e$J?kQψ81u8H$X:22"8K#T2K- !ʭdѤ^ܽ{2T&˄5 , n2KeT cLK+("H,>HU<4WeļhB<.%?{^L_x^hf0FEJ axqT SЛ;V}Fُ4ȝk8UGnS[jT?/ɤ}t@(Y~ዀ>|\Wk (䀿N` )ٲ_VAgR2He0s75G (xįV jTG&4X;Sl}&qG!q+ϴdruEiA0'LCeՍn:\Wtr F;ecwlHqGhn"(>ĭchskrӔLR)0ċM<`@$a<@{% 1A-ELWxzƯ/{obbR;brE=ѻ@u8.}.aznBr4*8x,*wEESB48=\(.+.d5YL=a³E!{X{7 ˅hkhpq)VWdmsB]bUt1'jҮk~]s̘xlK]q5q.孼La7!$UEJop"ܟsU`.r(jۄ|A,~"'q\2醡L.\r\X^FoG%,/$)g; @0Z#7Yüj h2ꠋNAC̽$TX@7.\<] D癯Yb]e^1e:-bWFPN8Ob%]PA!t 2+Cm1EXs5|pq.i eiilgKIra3r:Y,A},tg0E@ o> jP2w5=42 #b{0aˀ ->s\\39Ci.L.N2*TK5.1r岳2 JIFnؖ0N9S`E@R2TW+zwqY\c:`}bX_pxV=Z\ƫ(-{`!IA+bXu]}VnPoReŃQ.-e~w.\o=+b V7$吮AjUJr_r/ t[á.S{Bd5U2xc 2%B_hxO)t-Ti5% "{Rc\g$W9V:^`$9Z P3)pB'mLsR 'Etſwbc'L<؉o{˅ ˗*T%s..1q*ee7=C=F"^V7S j}'^fXb ;uR#In ꐊmʕ+Cy]3З3qNRԨ}췺ǥn]%r2KE,K,r!M10 /Q)@J /L~mh}A_.e-J] *(s?#XaGA#,b< `#'0vTw3j 5)r(|Nt2hՃ@hYGwMͥ[{ A7^@SdNVd 3&`X m6 5U]G@~xT rao% *$Vx*WLܸ84Mf%J*= qdAScܿMG= ؟=.ER\NH^ɫh`^(R r*fBˠԧ~)ts .n\rdLmQ*@\&S-K9ƯSGo+,0Z;%V!i=6Q*ա5 o22h3(8S;rLkf]Bͅno$ nY)8_bf^*"!D/g$$veJ [rc6u.e^aUhJj d=:B//2æɉ}A0f0@Gb'ľlܤ}r˗%(U9Ea1_U)6AWV^t40“ vSiX;ۼY`E] /fj+xˈJ%v-ZFE]8J U QpJ;$W;ψʚT c)A/Z71LP7)G0ǫM k^c0arB_rj,Yf838B= 2 3(_zj-efTdJ._#Rf1M҈2fSk"hCiKM$C3dsShrPuӐG8ؑ9M4%=.VF U!bW`_F~5c)^jD^2ӠPJ.sŨ7bP.TR%K!Խ"^6n7/jojMBպ ĪbKK;fF:^’ J1LDwMŋ7 "[ D=7"#[6̡fbhp ͔m\GGiLjmL ͖]Ők  r52`/A.,7Ҽ%筰sh®_0 "ͤSBd&B;Ϙ4{ AH%^ q/zZ 㨰fXgmKWn]G=*m`3ĸn=Nc V[*/)W^^3 i&0˨;D9g̩FJpvskQ( Om E0ag LLK 1.bs23 ,S:V QȜ̷4ŞRJ3DF9*>"klA.ni>zBW謏h`#7YOz[CxN!cK g6FD$w%|OhKyWZl= u4d1,rc(=t~(\ K U0 LT!ܯ )7D [`@RNr_A  "&]CZg r,357<*j..b#HԮ myY7\%oEV![(ɞcN\AJ^״^|JÈE+S(%>%3 d-bt){ n]JU)A\{Ez8+.2$E2ң%tA: k"D:%9GœlJ$}cg,wM%x1̨i g:1q/ĺAe Qo7L&]dgiؕ[NttUq`2^OH"2\Ÿo^by-÷ *bihAߠKQn QIĩ髩\o6xR8Z[/! }#h>aQɖp)r6V\t70z6`Wxj1\^DOC>V@1h.Fq4jԢ6p  k\o=.?b2C3/^-rq,5qĺqKtbX֣A DA  s D w  " wsuTMpc±&%ĺ[-d嚗- `*r_)(;$&Yw bVf i v\,e#XϘ5c.}K:еJ#.3tzzQx-˘%˚#28;Ҋ R{MVPʳ]80/MJ$~1,!Jf s ErL_J'tb9u+ʔZx[&6f%PLKA .AB*{^/aaewh Awb!pTWԻ:՞j`Ђ'$ؓT%\i.X%¬17x {PnhabTZa"W Tٮѧ P9,Vt_l m9YrL>axKC3ۥ4a bRqf8`LOĺ}nn=%Cd;*wLp@w+!ځ[CLfQ2/eW[LgbGcl[*WF\f:a%~RNo86QDLUrThfTI(&iȲ@U)Z A11ab t2Vpѕv2f>C)]gc@/ ٖYzs(;[l[h$h%O?smݽoB kwOoy5fwo\YI$mieͶiHI/MoeXY&ߴMmiIO%2I,^'_$Wg}QSI;dm6h$n+I_ǟ}{m B@"4 kΈEv]Ϳ~Zed$}PC믾i$]r:m.=mI$(x@H 5fe_gVG+ $Z+֩Q},{APW߅Nٽ"tFRo9H,$-Kg}ٺ"H r[7P΢RlH-\}F&ld6Rdmeh=fDͶ_#=OW;WSLuwROlm'%e ^H'ZI,_,ߦ_KdnnۦͦZy @9޿}vLepi=Hm {Z{aHɴ>]I;y'I[`Ӹ -(GIm7=4bik'7Md Ɍ鴔5"O]tImK) I$lY)H鏷3X}4I6Ϭ}nw4i"7i@y͔7o_ed[4N#ӭ X;{mKmKeI%Ym%®vՓuPV^K$-I[$Kf$O,ejGd7RŞMv[lk>YlIeY,Y$ml| "m3-JlI-Qud mYd :vIH6ImE s%/%oeele[vK(KPZg{7{Yl$Yl,I-omN;Y-&csMK$=[-IdI}OR`z]zš]X-&KlIedYvoz 'ϴq_ɶj0,,K=׽"!1 0@APQa`q?d'PM.oM̓7~󥯺PJ)JR/+05N}b,>**** ?JxqH!?xh< +B0k \t@ѣ}a*PLН >gjy7KE:ak第0hKti $M VVV'FV!!$ǡD^̽ bxViѤ9XYeG!D4VVh!A5 |,X$Ap{""cJUb^#dYe"t{!+p[L6 B" jƴ Q'q/Dؐ^"`"" "jk zk`Ţc(LR՛m!W / z~ad6!J3 c$Wcq$V(CtF&ePB5 g%d l i2"zJeQE`*Șݱ Q 2t$|WqL?X/5]` 77'p}S \.9#PnN:FT"$DDDDDDDDX["Ȉ,DDE#HaX)Ye=? p@$I$Ja{"ZDDC!(%|5Hd!*D2 ;g>埏wKbO4'set& uyx\yܮn|z-3X&xz{)}%9F e-HnML>&\_*bx>㏻CD+t"C]DG6~F#-` H4xlSDQ,FpPL\& ++YEeeeecwJ zAe["eSQP(zv5 +QK)anDC Ftt&?̹R#!S^c0ڄA41c%FcwHfx}+,pV4P5f 5ljz[pc6 UWJx5>!H)\(2hh˳ +N >t!YE}[̊D% V֕2b2R+nl".KsAF"* ~)oHBٕW'pm f CBk 6. FۢزHCӡ= DA8*{cGP)t:X%tOz^DIcoBrYC#dК{`ֈoMŌ"?X!l!>  ´&1J-xc]c ={H)JTsH=al+S dJ|(C/OJ+BDr$X$N,PC**CP%1sB ?W$X}x]YmWࡽ+>F"5T($&IOoabbyXx2#Ycʭ",E/̲"V%xXf=0 DF"Ƒb;HjF_ D f5 R9F12!0i 2H AjI!?g*hMAp6 *A]p E! R7l MRJWd*)V9>jMP1zFD5,OpY¡Љ-bb %/Hhy 5z'GBJ&:^_q 6ɉ;$S[CW,,6lCۢt=BXt,̡() '(شU؃t}LYe?\p"ዘ|hPBg^"Pa. _[?nhFf,B_ $1!*p3$j/ B";?}pwl%O+k+}XnxpwҦ)!Np;ai,$kD &!;; A&)pmR7 8b.QE H=4[L"10}YbD $dUOs8xLljU5c2IŎnN9{u灦BcHуT5|Spw_הXoXpA҃.CMb 4h_p(=#O.\`zQ>%}~(]losmm"!1 0A@PQa`q?~'_PqW0Wj\'1nRbw=A7] PN VV8'DЄ''(B Dv)_wqY?34&c#^Uz(EEE*8A% h[KX?*#p;_J RN4=1,Zju'gD$>L'#[CI2 8k XTik]E-th40izl]=i?6F#n| O *4c1CSWpLQYBtIB/L4ŊrbV9DBaT}0!iZ@OqReg&2=hho(ׄ$r>lk!lKhkd!2ލaL5& lUdQ }CFVXZcFjdQC-Bi R? &M٧DI}xn(Gs) hT;**? S 7q(_FTljԄvŢ(Ȑ^ &I$$M!Y'4*+***!)CpJM*S LccTlmª;HjK^ǡ%<G!65 7[E$sŠ,4) Ь KXclL$.vVX!S5%e uYEQ \R}$A~FQ}F 慁u6?ރut(XY p!- I> E~4 ZbI!"CRI! JףtodX{B67-HIAJ(֨w/NH#/"it}xm#(ClX2oM^ŵ?3}NHdf457T5DȆFCx5) /@APA bpPFREQE! b$N̔5 \8-ZmɱGؐdM  G~ͺLi MF.QV>4EX(.7r#HF*=#!߅eebw=aJ+-}CH(N5H 4xwOXVVVQYYYYYXĆg N+J ҃f6ES+p7 E2p}R"đtFw#|m(ugk_)$6+^*****~yrߗT$|-a¬IRo0-D )鴈"zc>ǚJT$d YE F$WBD4p%#2?=9! ⣞i] j5!b{S \6gBvΨK" \eeeeeeeebuR%F' n˴YkXMtbbk%EWDDAה"a/ äGU7EeeYJzII F-c_B_డc11g AEὕU1 (q 4$DC>b K#:$/8PHiTje^sӃOk"lGDA&!RAAuN2  >D:l(-D:"lc )и7E ՃDiUw jA&ZƜ67BJ4zX\z:'ZScGxb4'8 p>`TM @= xF»%K# HlQEQEP2>iW3I'݉6OLjeBa418LmO "&EK׆iE h8fG<BK^9n)~[_7WGM ]l: lub#<=+]"? H'M}7x2-5[!w7XIb^xוmD7`FއIlRbMk wbC"\SQCwp: ]8Rs0_Nۢ')qqFv}$4^KW^_>c]bY.=яD$_|/,l|v&OÇ͸6QZ#yN~ PM+%W,/Tt_RjOce""""""#Ih[,]<$D'e}Am%Pz'U"zF%~4.~EG^_o[ V`hmкb;FU1ƉIpO_ =.y\f%$ZthgD(!1AQaq 0?jeS$+Pc"߃,KK-5n$_I\ ߖeTTcJ-DRihM2 ԧs)D^-6dj߁ϙ ;*Q.s(WWz†_c58=n[%z A4n_et˼ܸQS%vWh"D~gP Mwg̮уrpT]/ܿeƣz\gUq~,*yyŸV9-J+31*eoy+ee:faˈ";d!ɲ4wz0eANYolm3s$ G_]%W +90'?_"m K^sǂ .v2*&;o/5eE!z<6~1=Ɋ< y|P50)Ģ4qQU3/#"T=͉QңQRXqu-U.qK-lq.qSzOIq+'-*Xce%+WvJrn:i2\JKu)3Qo|O0~ * pb{9yQRF_Ku-ԻnzP. Y*!i;tAX]5>'"#ftNܿrf;=ʳ0TDON$ے0! ̷opLQq+crM ws`rEeRLw*TRƅ+W6qn廇JJė ^"#y \Zos=Ƭ0zq=QHvJ зѷsXg"@EPƃb""ZKhȖy6o O;;D**{)1?7A~ pDR[qPُ:2`SR|œ2w)ܧr)“/73 \G 4,pۋe1e 99`QN0Qiih?~`2?Y.+(.Sx)ܳ?nIL+'Fd4kM:;[kR8-`U+7n(H±.Þ/a|rK3 \\.*|2;mf ǨRZP33+AZK=AKVWĭ% j;' l} D%Ame_f ,WQhD.CYܳdYw(0XRfEK)( GeaC9!{Bɘ4RJ2+_2fKLQf*mx̿rXۙ~e-cIp,;R("5[古/>1rܐB1EJY7b+(/7Zn)lEc52 [oNVS/5Đ0_6c2<g}_طM=@k@&!uxlKg13p Bht+CqmiP(s}v.8#`qlܪL10)oԴkps?Ze!lt:<,,vDzY0\. "Z"tM6*+lD 0_c!wAܥl#M$M .ě ;r, #?(U^Rx ,b[V vx!{b,cmIU.kUd,بHtVĤ0`pQMbZo` o}̤H \/;ee&2VKfu+vh]Ybqzޔ/O1PFs?b(*we%%L5L8*P*8NzPC̻[]䁠l'TnF&-}[YDQ)ELd% :%RRJ%"#NAM*&m \zڅV&U.rōA)KOk d-Y7 NiE)l V)GP#?-+ZK}h$%Q*|]8L[ؖ홁C *=T;Fx*ͳ%^[UJ%vllb~gvU3)/:ڪ;+*r}@N>`"ԳozsifO0ñ[ڲ/rjc\#W[Kꐥ xD1ڠQUO+# N⾹`_1ely@'V ABhFG?Rj#s=俊`8ef\3Pʑ~Lm%a 5p^bjFu2K|Rx{Keȗ5ܸP؍ oOqUvĢy,Aޝ˕ Ue`6Ǩ~&wm%-/otfFWlf9`?p x%(ƉO<m@',JGXW1|*QX׉ lU6z~fRQUΣ*Q%,vLRR;ܭxrLP"}C3xe^#@@M;ʺ׉;. s .TٳĨn6l)iROd=l2KD~n]ryPq{ f)}CPS xx»GY0z'8OW0\LOEx@`F]jF)ƃ̴AUyxpJ; īްұqX\_ @w{ħQ6q-E% 51(/sHJ6P/EPy)@ "l5/~i乨2FpDf&PBN'DID.10]Ug.TuCP[$QP -pMp(slPL0ib:Do̽H{ʡdvƱ|p x)D @TÔY3Cf Eʴr4q6:<&6hxɃ]m =Wez2 4Ub6G@eKlr!@s>bC*REULtKHt !̨cqU߄HeQA<[j +ƆXAy*p*XOW7gK+^=G~l$6Dr<=vHӄoGD`{0 Cc0C+@FmEJC=`V8iDBkNb,|`06CĵT+-F _Թ“@K^հ%[aJ䢥m y MiIw tQ-Y ؠƊ`վٙBش2F1Ll` t9 )fY+P9SR`zkh {pU}?rЕV=^ :jd@E3.RpzeEAY;lLj7LPyΥ[qsRH oBDxA)bۣs"xqNjcH4^bn 4Hca‹*fQ:X1YʧiԮjf:DlIxh<{HrBڧqMIx8kkC6yŅ ]v1Y&B? ?Em"_1Xg 7-jdRF*]E)61Tt۹*pBnhupU=-e4޷n ٯrU!q,߸ԳW+J!! >R)j򖾋m T YґyETm9uEF71ߣ@#mQyl`Az  q~#h C`qXM0 [n㨌@,[̵r.ꠥ0Q\0BJp nUȂܜ@eMKo]f.1 pX_dHQ؅El7H]¸tx0K"QVŭRmW~eQukB9ޥ]@ GATUCAF21q襞EQ^3H QCXEXa[ZH` eenK SQ~Byu^q ;ay 4Eb{D{{j)WMy&TK) Iu T-rPzfcyN{s_Z[|nQ{KtQ6J/Q%9B-_C@ĩh&a&Mlwml!$ʑwcGP(TjP,TBV#&)&q:xf`%2Dg-1T\ 4&Mlk%d-dYPZT_2i*MT(ÛAbQÿ|qBΞ^ۆ3>l&n'>aŹJ#ueqF?X9&l bf~ z?eٴ'5),hDžtJ"[x CmHżJo;J `{B~Yb3/x|Eie֢iVl| y%i/%KPHwwh5 M- g ѽ 1k/T꿨֩ϿPhu Qe|J(?p ;G-YEr|C 8-D\[A.F}CvՅ>Q_( fY' _:/2z.p! Nf QSޘ YwyD0JZl7M1\`06naEM(E&[J4ܻBLP>\_DfKNRFQdF=84/k}"5lᏮ [P)1Wm;]0=lQIXgƩLʈLvT,丢;5`kJ_ܫJ$Vb QQD( r qN%`uW1l(O>D&>DqG˿<+ExTP )P AKob*\@VC\Dw4b x)j P/ʱqR݄Ve,"͌rz&XN`aS5ľmAxi|G2;h?0bO"3J( {oWyDK/ 3`5K;=FX^"eʎg5 \PPA"g]刁ڳ0*,acVg`8)ePEUYca]hCT˴TA{>i@o>ilUXQc]mRY^a1N`f0(9yW,e{/_5 :=GSƠ8LWJ+FDӌI3Z[3+DpQX%mZU"h֥.E]18!hv7z1 q9V"Pi-G`lP5pn(ٝb(Kb6ȅeCAhE!DOrCu'@SLLzw S_9WtE>)o#\P!%Xu hpMwB,``ҴJU3*KQQP 6ջ([0“LEA_6aJgԌ >g&:v\_A9?XE|,&{/K2eC!ao&*!Yu18͇0F֬ #_ԩEvAei||x`yԩ4 p2lBŰ= 3 -Iİ8(|`[8>ᛖ"|&IhI~gWWCFf zaT@Y>H7$785U,fR觐#!;IL@l9Pg$Y -G"y@ eFxubY깬xZb*u(`tQ Agc.`Hg1F"@U6(e20pTuk-rgnբZPde`) ySpecȤs9S,wjv%b)RΨ*d + ,Fnګ8&;fY7TېUJ9b֚żp2 qQi^d)w8Щ|_9Z<ЌeYz8 ^dcCRiϢpebв0* /r͏1?<(wnN%"FՆ)5VV~҉TA+ة1 `s'fFB5TwLi@|B>UkhPBkͨzF՗WPGv3liJ>Le$RQq#zܽ,i]2QwPP4 ؒYF_#\'VЉ_#d87ox5Q帕+PKq d@im 뉐ե%J+Q6OuJ@k.=p@Dof5kٗ,ir@OX(5  <Wy?b G6?nFɗ͘HZkWE3t ~\TjL̷C W )-`|œycZj+ pw0vE`1b~>celʤ/hq|@,100]ztj[[ew?1NR]aٚ>,wH}q T!K=Xs%xbQlO|DgwI|q- ^EB/jɤWu1%*oP*KwZ\h~쥩h8KcS45+zi hdrk}(8m@{6C[ a ?dHG2Q{ p,|@=L˚\@+j\JT7*0G=x)3-J烙TRA2Xaׅ SJ7K7ɩ=D_ AO똡#H߇)UӇ[+GX)BPfPKZ%["([Q>1J7 q ˔~x(!wYx<: $ܫh~훷1(Ո0zE09I ``vPz1hzɃWE1E( e%6KqC,;SklTפGkIRS19%AfSS5d)7y&T8]Es1o2|$[[P~a5,g|F[a>H ;~Yۓ6_AE'P{ɿ4ƽȁԿa~! iz# /!VS0Y)ܲ+qŜ:pc,jGXثf@F6 "vF6(M*O@#-ܵvaj /1%:~%C*S"iW*R@[Jt1Ԫ'gOrs2(͇2 5)oޣXٺ `B3b@؈ .zƠJe-Jm]H⏨R/!\O<O 7%J~KA~u_5KlXCU/:ž_m *02*jisamY)g#*irrQ Ag"svGdprdѪ7)x_S1́i ݷ VQ+ʷL.K`3k6l OX 7N*nP,r*D7kW^Cn/ Kx݊p 2S|uB(F  (޿&]ǩbu=&!7*F ϬipkwP0Y=̓m-BK*oXQzQ :g}$F w+vMB\~x3uj^@|`8L>49ˀյGX,dY N"palCu e,Q >5x#K gmh La6 EJ@NAW*3^c6 ȎS0CTE+-AJg#M)/%6'Q(ߣ$4D> \QsO7 g_ lV&0F5 ] h.*QZ.^UN xR)-=lri|"=e^sTMdc7v4mQWE~̦Įql|\ 2C%@ Ey'^bAjr̼L(E i?ɮ7*^ì XrJk#\p9BQAEcA,t_/w_>7w7Wpn 5{nawRy]UɏkŷbR:Y<<3׭kU\)lQuѲ/9 b`(t_ f\m菺5Xvm#qߝEAR7 X{83 rT~`V%OU7<$U*,=U,zgE >锴TsyXҔ@!,3* ]Gs;#LnT෉D`4KQ12x2xrH`A$ X`CD^ 0˙Mrm?naV j6@9"̽Ly/ܳ ~eQ0H =`(':3_0\tjb@`Rħ0)7f8.@'-fk6bXcUy̿37'oԢ̙PorP]ASDb%[Xևi6Q$ Z!S`mb#BoB,WImd_8t"z}B *^!n:ˌCc w.US r^1݈*BqP "AS 6f9ҏ֡o&J"qCP2̔lދJpfz>&{[*r 0lhžrNM3rN58"qyM iNWœ̛\;S (|j]!**b!QJrWyb@ǡLGcFǡPUKQKV#M Q4!ڍ͆~ɞotB81A4. ./EDijcn!an~ZT:[{JlGh  ~7&MRXōA`L4ڏ5 Q-g(b<[l*g.3?A&Zo*c,alu=CحN' [Dbɗ@T[+ AV"S*(S̸fz* W \`HZERh%(jiXxT8,`N JGIeR5HO6M) ]FQFu13MӜ1J ,`3s75%Twr;Uq?f VGj ix=2srכ#ǸH1~^EJp:}j./rHQ4"y! ͇R,IӀ~KV g>0dķ!RH$O"6s bN E{ L'l[K>LjP8$pE*5q}q=¬UKQx\aWE' ]AH2ʐ1[*W(w3B/;8p,`I~t]~!d`yESL5@*W<*89v**/=ez^. 9u3qJ(@wq|TKKKuTܺOtG 504$qz̲)TY\+rWTYd 0{W4̋  {+q4n;n"V#4ר|\KļBq j4q - er!| QB'  FzTSØɮ ݫEG\J֬1"wܺL˅Gxļ% *Jf­(Lw) :Z:ÏpK% 9RezS6d3)70cr'#IJT "G!E dNKH 0*o7n" 88w)㺋$So7W6:UwƭY U~ {cazNqfo1ǣc(ÉV](`w1Epv7RQv2ø|x=JXwSy ,U`c0^z]F!^.b9e9o_QFjQK)>e00>!D7.5qB)q[QܵT-BؘYܼDLa*.<"*$ÃN(q?S`4n8/ iNVP9v.4.M5s eUcaˆ:AF%Xje8A"HŪZBmNaf |9:F h$`|2?l40;qq Bo>8hvSܷ(  ڔcġ!~eϚ]D)0V4hnPjd3ɝv<e"X?0ە071-Ǽ++taĶPT#{LԱlL7|\ ^%- j4~#-BZB$eD#(J%ĮpyX``-ҀD{-MkйXSTj–E8>aiۜxyߋq$ݏ5dWlHcjw).z Z_ g9f̳02jچÝ,.s0 %%=ن/%\R,2ĶG$$nP$~;eT99HܥEfYytw2S2C)ܬC @* ceRnXJ2)dI#5M̥n55bsou-`l>Gx i Ѡx,Im̭yBIf:2^Tu,">l.aoqv]= *vU]=%oP$(ͼLT R72P6J猴c.W&xL*L;jYsf,O])>iSq &q(+ ikgŜ2 TuSψL3d;)5.gl@*l1p¨*c CbSahU)?bQ(-%Nyj\K_pn*=A;I0\cیx&#|Q" rb— AyJ q6u׎. m\p%Xhe"n:t`i,j `sS3D<ơm\4T*5\X ׉a)olK2TV`1X \(q~C w)%gf*Ʀ/@UX %oYr?XNh+1.Pz*S`bُޢ!j̡|bR̳<0 A/Q juVbk~c*y89aܧM%_ADjn! ^%zH;]]f(op&RPm*TQ<.xea) ]?e2>SP+ 4M| FșE4pa *JqOܭ^gd3(e+:aKS,(q /$&*2-&_u*~OF1XR`CJ;Ѳc=X;Qrkϒ^Fa&/ՕA֧@d<1aip~m퀇 +dJD7 酿5*`2a .op <yè`x&`^%Pı3U+7*U̥mwEp.S{H_ic0fggg5i03Js^eom̚j!7ń@MaLtj6JpfR;,Ʀ|A VfTGV†.(8DU:dBBFP)$GL 躆t[䘯8@ψqi%q5eB˂0AMD\0PKo'x0 -~n'W|MLG ` Fȟdq0ՏĶyBM=FWE[$W!&iZZa)aPJJFs]R0-)jlkĜh3) T!;j K\`YClsogF!`5-*ƠӗHf化y킽ϙ~~~Iwr1b6ye肚 iD Y,ċ,$`"* n2&x!FJ4_Dp(D08.V.%s_mղxDc_9tRQp4ܬueC;m v]-*N2yMݙYLejQv!Xᕴ=Г!ZdG&Gڬ]@' PZm,ﲥ-fQ4F aPcv0+cko=_8{1uBN`z@55B I-U ,Ʃ xNB1FJ#}/Bd9_ե:R/VTahG2gRzlK6!6MX n\7PwBaL^.[ `Z4 AvM{_`fF B>%x[ {XSyV(K&)0@tehF}++WԤ ̑@]ځm` cMij:6>7)K, PKYIO Qb$ qOUXb@DKv-8e\)Fzŭh Cp; H( (sP2e>bј S28'l_+)3j\ǑR3 QD뉸B y&. ]G;`mQ Ƨ+ $CƉrG-Gp0+S+ԧP; njz1"E˗O$w ~6@XQ.(c8W`J]K<;6U#@VQNeGSYm3l}0v ZfQ '-[pKP2Z;X2.Kh^⎞mi[ÖT1Α( .po18"^5e鍋Ja5 ĥI]0 ڱv+E+RVy[J*V#GAm vZˊ"nZ ya(Ф+yf 'o,v1CUs/f3<w1|E-rF1C.op]TIԧ{f\\MEɹg|NFߩwq!f`-43d:74Y {)Enb,`Ж*s2.\iRLA,,H c "͌ 9CќA09Jj\T|eW^2,(;U0)›` ۱ijن9@} 1\tfbA. ZdtL Pi E &M.m @3[Y $q)2g_gcl(d^i H+b:D/quEJlqhH4s|OSWKvu-,1N. ~>x AJWs,(.++ \{=rRҰʼfG0hJ {LAx`ʭPUԫ:`;s()OjfxhHedc1 9ɾ_GnRio;P&c)I[􌅄mk?=K 250 ӅثF_YE2dݒ1#1`Cu4pf[F Q *Qb@ D#fcT<@g'oqb[E-i}iPH)~{o=Zh_,H4Ŧ-e1qc s,Dj1D^*:1vXZp#]a~ h&51uTU,—1][z@2KR,̒e4`. PLH"ᾠXGJ -N]aug#!VZIe3NkVl 1 !)5H1UX/fk5 s [ICN:s0\p@dK<̄\Ǹڂ/@Q69=8ȲgIpJSeUtDCoq<WD*R|u,0>1H.hVtEѩ!d8!bl1E*} D0ġ|H[#$EZwSZ *H4An 3a+H *,9e!OQ;,4Wr\C \⹌+2:EԜp/G,EDp·Mlbx")c$ vs|>^+3١Cpj-MHdψ6*2ak ,K|"4RT0ܰZ倱 IU|)-8*4ܸ\Yc+ZTng"o FC6GCns]`$ )(p[3e1mK3!1aQQ1ӄ4*ZĨݰRe;Z[-k1afrZRF>`U%lj[ܷpgnX7vcr^GCjy^"3͠%=<1HPN(K#{3xs39 U13u lZ˻jSpѐu/Hf6AO:պ))6NqGY(:{-0*S]*զE,9ZYho9 x*Qr~ eq@DPjGkl0|KZ` +AeN#q>{r@*QD͆B\)FjH72}ٴ| bMg@Ůf-Q3.t~QMBl@xmb׈) byr8@\^ϟᅹWCrQ|QSDg]y"v,pjbq5,Eu ;ܠ햹l ݁z<-7PӐ1 FzѸ+ KAW+R(T-9K$=~]ʔVW5 qy<>n= |2 @fV.<*`Ĩ*2. s8C6?4*FM. rfZݣBg%7 &Ph%0e/.IP)ET P1AF) h.#JwAd?LBZqi|VQŅj?P/k<ŬB:nTeaK^RNbҥ˗,!eky" 0N]m|K5['f U!+: qeqE's1,,+uE< Kīi@jCi [ZhXF&أ,9.WG ;@s (K>f:A/b*~Cj\MF;E$,yff?P*5kYl!~O@Q\w)9AC+J+VSQ-fqo38wXZ*)F7-w2F=4Wy.t G01D0ˉ扸82^b!6ĦmoO:a9eTi ^JeUJ/x.ةoJ^R.#sڔjԉoHpD-OVsbq.^9> V/nSQ)*֠y5"f~"luf:DѼ3Ph9]L*lF!b3pn{x JSUSIQɅfkQ{)Sq)[>{(]Gw/h*v M0bK[{ZDfq]Y\KU\WZnu-=Je kT|ŀt M,IhůhA𘮳DQ򂂠1:'"VNnm2+Ws<k|)kCC/PT HW,f;Ů#䯘 j%JtԵ#11PeIJ`F+nW(16:xcWP&%͊ՈKUD8 k\Du (`+NEEv[ nR`AMU` ȄLB^Ȱ ga>bQkbXKA^WE7{!-&] >> startxref 88328 %%EOF Some Lessons from the Untimely Teesta Flood – Bangladesh Environment Network

Some Lessons from the Untimely Teesta Flood

An untimely flood wreaked havoc on the Teesta basin in Bangladesh, beginning on the night of Wednesday, October 20, 2021. A sudden onrush of Teesta water flooded the area to a level that has not been witnessed since 1968. Several people have died, while thousands of people have lost their crops, their houses have been damaged and destroyed, their clothes and other belongings have been washed away, and the infrastructure of the area has been damaged to a large extent.

The apparent cause of the flooding has been unusual rainfall in the upper catchment area of the Teesta River (Sikkim and northern parts of West Bengal), leading to a sudden increase in the river flow, which was then passed on to Bangladesh by the Gajoldoba Barrage operators by opening all the gates. According to local sources, the water reached the Teesta Barrage at Dalia by the evening of Wednesday, though the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials did not wake up to the information and the situation till Thursday morning, when they too decided to open the gates of the Teesta Barrage. However, by that time, the water accumulated at the head of this barrage had burst out of the river confines and flooded the area. The volume of the water was so huge that even opening the gates and the flood bypass—so the river water could spill over into the downstream reaches (from Teesta Barrage) of the river too—was not enough. The entire region of greater Rangpur was affected.

The affected people will need a long time to recover and rebuild in the aftermath. They need immediate assistance to shore up their lives. In particular, they will need clothes and blankets to survive through the impending winter. The local activists of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Teesta River Bachao Andolon are at the forefront of the relief operation, using whatever resources they could muster, working from Wednesday evening. However, the people in the affected area will need broader and more significant assistance from the government agencies.

Given the government’s disaster management capability and other resources, the relief and rehabilitation operations will probably go well, and the situation will be stabilised. However, greater questions still remain: What is the guarantee that a similar frightful episode will not happen again soon? What can Bangladesh do to avoid such catastrophic floods and manage to cope with them when they actually happen?

Bangladesh’s rivers and water resources face threats from three sources: global, regional, and domestic. All these combined to produce the latest nightmare in the Teesta basin. The global threat worked through climate change, causing the untimely torrential rainfall in the Teesta upper catchment area. The regional threat worked through the decision of the Gajoldoba Barrage operators to open all the gates, apparently without timely and adequate consultation with the BWDB officials of the Teesta Barrage. The domestic threat found manifestation in the fact that the country is not prepared to accommodate unexpected large volumes of river overflow in a safe and controlled way. What can Bangladesh do to mitigate threats from these three sources?

Regarding climate change, there is no doubt that Bangladesh has to make its voice stronger in the international fora, and as the chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has an important role to play in view of the upcoming COP26. It can be hoped that Bangladesh will live up to its expected role at this conference. However, one does not have to be too pessimistic to realise that the impact of Bangladesh’s initiatives in halting and reversing climate change and its various effects is going to be limited. That being the case, it is important to think what Bangladesh can do to mitigate the regional and domestic threats.

Regarding the regional threats to the Teesta River, it is well-known that Bangladesh has been striving for a long time to reach a treaty with India. The focus of the proposed treaty has been, however, on the share of the dry season flow—as was the case with the Ganges sharing treaty signed in 1996. What the recent event has shown is that this focus needs to be extended to cover river control throughout the year. It is not appropriate for India to build a controlling structure and then use it for its own interest only. Bangladesh should have a say in its management, because it has to bear the brunt of the decisions made. To add force to this demand, Bangladesh needs to sign the 1997 UN Convention on Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses. Article 7 of this convention forbids upstream countries from carrying out such interventions in shared rivers that cause “significant harm” to lower riparian countries. Other articles—such as Articles 20 and 23—also provide protection to lower riparian countries.

Of course, signing the UN convention alone will not solve the problem. It will also be necessary to bring about some changes in Bangladesh’s water diplomacy with India. So far, Bangladesh has conducted this diplomacy relying on goodwill. However, as German statesman Otto von Bismarck said, international relations are based on interests. Just as India is leveraging its upstream location to impose its will on Bangladesh regarding rivers, Bangladesh may also leverage its geographical location to reconsider issues of transit, trans-shipment, port facilities, and even trade and employment. Otherwise, Bangladesh will be increasingly at the mercy of the barrage operators in India.

While Bangladesh has limitations regarding what it can do to mitigate global and regional threats, it does not face such limitations regarding domestic threats, which are unfortunately self-created. What the recent Teesta flood episode has shown is that Bangladesh has to have a lot of storage space for river overflows. The active floodplains of the country used to serve as this storage space. They also served as additional passageways for the overflow to pass on to the sea. Unfortunately, following the Cordon Approach for the past 70 years, Bangladesh increasingly disconnected the floodplains from the rivers. To cope with the new normal created by climate change, Bangladesh has to reverse this process and reconnect the floodplains with rivers by adopting the Open Approach. It has to adjust the living conditions and economic activities in the floodplains to suit the open conditions.

The recent Teesta flood also shows the inappropriateness of the proposed Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP). According to a YouTube video prepared by the vendor company, Power China, the Teesta River, under this project, will be artificially narrowed from its current average width of about 3km to only 0.8km. Though it has been suggested that the depth of the river will be increased to 10 metres through dredging, analysis makes it clear that this gain in depth will be nullified in a few years by about 49 million tonnes of sediment that the river carries each year. What that means is that the river will be incapable of holding normal peak season flows, not to speak of unexpectedly large volumes like the one we’ve seen over the last few days. Going ahead with this project will therefore only make matters worse.

What is instead necessary is to rejuvenate the connections of the Teesta River with all its tributaries, distributaries and water bodies of its basin so that wider storage capacity is restored. Meanwhile, the changed strategy of water diplomacy may help to restore the dry season flow of the river, thus triggering a natural process of restoration of the original, healthy morphology of the river. These are the few lessons from the current usual Teesta flooding. 1

October 20, 2021 Teesta flood photo captured by Faridul Islam of BAPA
+ posts
  1. This op-ed is a reprint from the Daily Star, publishhed from Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Leave a Comment