What is holding up the Teesta treaty?

What is holding up the Teesta treaty?

Sub: Geography

Sec: India Physical Geography

Context:

• During the recent state visit of Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister Modi announced a technical team would visit Bangladesh to discuss the conservation and management of the Teesta River.
• This comment reignited speculation about the long-pending Teesta water-sharing treaty between India and Bangladesh.

International and Constitutional Context:

• Sharing waters of transboundary rivers is mandated by international laws like The Helsinki Rules.
• Article 253 of the Indian Constitution allows the government to enter treaties related to transboundary river waters.

West Bengal’s Concerns:

• Sharing Teesta’s water with Bangladesh would severely impact lakhs of people in North Bengal.
• WB has consistently opposed the proposed water-sharing agreement and suggested alternative rivers for sharing instead of Teesta.

Bilateral Water-Sharing Issues:

• India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers, making water sharing a critical bilateral issue.
• The Ganga water-sharing treaty was successfully signed in 1996.
• The Teesta water-sharing agreement has been pending since 2011 due to West Bengal’s opposition.
• Hydropower projects and the Teesta Barrage Project have made the river’s flow erratic, affecting Bangladesh.
• Environmental Challenges:
  • Environmental activists have raised concerns about the ecological impact of hydroelectric projects.
  • A glacial lake outburst in October 2023 caused significant damage and highlighted risks.

Proposed Teesta Water Sharing:

• In 2011, a proposal suggested India would receive 42.5% and Bangladesh 37.5% of Teesta’s water from December to March.
• Teesta River:
  • Originates from the Tso Lhamo Lake in north Sikkim, travels through West Bengal, and enters Bangladesh, covering significant areas and supporting agriculture and population.
  • A tributary of the Brahmaputra.
  • It flows another 140 km in Bangladesh and joins the Bay of Bengal.
  • Teesta is Bangladesh’s fourth-largest transboundary river.
  • 83% of the river’s catchment area lies in India and the remaining 17% is in Bangladesh.
  • Tributaries:
    • Left- Rangpo River, Lachung River, Ranikhola, Relli River, Talung River, Dik Chhu, Lang Lang Chu
    • Right-  Rangeet River, Kanaka River, Ringyong Chhu, Ranghap Chhu

Bengal and the Ganga Treaty:

• Signed in 1996.
• Under the treaty, upper riparian India and lower riparian Bangladesh agreed to share the water of this transboundary river at Farakka (which is the last control structure on river Ganga in India), a dam on the Bhagirathi river around 10 km from the Bangladesh border.
• Validity: The treaty will expire in 2026 when it completes its 30-year term.
• Sharing Period: During the lean period, from 1st January to 31st May every year, on a 10-day period basis as per the formula provided in the Treaty.
• Ganga Water Sharing Formula:
  • If availability at Farakka is less than 70,000 cusecs: 50:50 split (35,000 cusecs each).
  • If availability is between 70,000 and 75,000 cusecs: Bangladesh receives 35,000 cusecs, and India gets the rest.
  • If availability is 75,000 cusecs or more: India receives 75,000 cusecs, and Bangladesh gets the rest.
  • Critical Month (April): Bangladesh is guaranteed a flow of 35,000 cusecs in the first and last ten days of April.
  • Emergency Adjustments: If flow falls below 50,000 cusecs in any ten-day period, the two governments will consult for emergency adjustments.
  • Monitoring: A Joint Committee monitors daily flows at the feeder canal in Farakka and the navigation lock at Hardinge Bridge (the point within Bangladesh where flows are monitored), submitting annual reports to both governments.
• Concerns:
  • Mamata Banerjee pointed out adverse impacts on West Bengal due to changes in the Ganga’s morphology and river erosion.
  • She emphasized the displacement and loss of livelihood caused by these changes and the need to address reduced silt load affecting the Sundarbans delta.

Source: TH