Teesta River

Why in news?

The Interim government of Bangladesh has stated that it may consider approaching an international platform for resolving the Teesta waters dispute. And a major landslide has hit 510 MW hydro power project in Teesta river.

About Teesta river:

• TheTeesta River(orTista) is a river in the Indian state ofSikkim. It is 309 kilometres (192 miles) long.
• Teesta River originates from theTso Lhamo Lakeat an elevation of about 5280 m in theNorth Sikkim district.
• TheTeesta river starts atPahunriglacier,and flows south throughrapidsin theSikkimHimalaya. The river goes by the town ofRangpo.
• It is theright bank major tributaryof theBrahmaputrariver system. Like many other major Himalayan rivers of India, like the Ganga,Teesta is a glacier-fed river.
• It changes course southwards flowing intoWest Bengal, before joiningtheBrahmaputra River.
• In Bangladesh, the Teesta joins the Brahmaputra on its right bank, from where the river isknown as the jamuna.Then, it finallymerges with the river Padma,which falls in the Bay of Bengal
• Historically, the Teesta river system was considered the major tributary of the Ganges
• The major portion or the greater part 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.
• There are two major large barrages on Teesta that diverts water for mainly irrigation purpose:
• Gajoldobhain India
• Duaniin Bangladesh.

Major tributaries of Teesta river

• The tributaries on theeastern flank are shorterin the course but larger in number whereas the tributaries on thewestern flank are much longerwith larger drainage areas, consequently contributing much more amount of discharge to the main Teesta river.
• The left bank tributaries originate from semi-permanent and much smaller snowfields as compared to right bank tributaries. Right-bank tributaries drain heavily glaciated areas with large snowfields
• 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.

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.