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Teesta water withdrawal by India playing havoc

Flow now 800 to 1,200 cusec against around 6,500 cusec in 1997: Untimely erosion alarming due to water withdrawal, protection embankment threatened, says WDB chief engineer

Our Correspondent, Gangachara
Unilateral withdrawal of water from Teesta river by India has caused havoc in its basin in greater Rangpur, effecting the ecology and economy. At Dalia in the Teesta Barrage Project area, the dry season water flow now varies from 800 to 1200 cusec against 6,500 cusec in January 1997. The lowest flow was recorded at 706 cusec in January 2001, according to Water Development Board (WDB) sources.
During dry season every year, Indian authorities keep closed all the gates of Gozaldoba Barrage built in Teesta upstream in Kochbihar and withdraw water. They also divert the water to Mohanonda river for irriga-
tion.
This has turned the mighty river into a virtual streamlet causing emergence of numerous shoals.
The water flowing area of the river has been reduced abnormally at most places, triggering strong current and massive erosion.
As a result, 500 metres of the Teesta Protection Embankment at Dhamur have eroded into the river, rendering 70 families homeless in about a fortnight, the WDB sources said.
During a recent visit to different areas in Gangachara along the river, this correspondent saw tobacco being cultivated on numerous shoals which remain under 30 water during thewet season.
The water flowing area of Teesta
has been reduced to only 40 metres at Dhamur in Kolkand union in Gangachara upazila.
Erosion has turned alarming there. Besides crop lands, the WDB groyne built on the west bank of the river to stop erosion has collapsed into the river.
Strong water current has also hit the right bank of the Teesta and damaged 700 metres of the protection embankment at Dhamur.
The water flowing area of the river will be narrowed further till July when Indian authorities will open the barrage gates to release flood waters.
Nazrul at Kolkand village said he is now a rickshawpuller as the river has taken away all the 11 bighas of land of his family.
BSS adds from Rangpur: WDB
officials here told BSS that the matter was been informed to the higher authorities timely. Superintending Engineer (Design) of WDB has visited the spot. Chief Engineer Sayeed Ahmed, Executive Engineer Moazzem Hossain of Rangpur visited the spot several times recently to assess the latest situation.
A Tk two crore project is now under process of approval for reconstruction work to save the protection embankmentat Dhamur, they said.
Executive Engineer Moazzem Hossain told BSS that the ongoing erosion there is alarming and the embankment as a whole is now under real threat. "We are expecting to start work soon after getting the funds," he said.