Teesta master plan can save lives and livelihoods of N-region

Staff Reporter  :
Bangladesh Nodi Bachao Andolan has urged the government to implement the Teesta master plan to save country’s northern region from desertification and the biodiversity and agriculture of the area.

The President of the Andolan Md Anwar Sadat said that the implementation of the master plan financed by the Chinese government would help irrigation including socio-economic development of the area.

“If the project is implemented, thousands of hectares of lands of the northern region would come under cultivation.

Flood and draught would be reduced to a great extent. The Teesta canal will revive again. The underground will be recharged again. And thus the northern region will be saved from desertification,” he said in a press release on Monday.

About additional benefits of the Teesta master plan implementation, he said, “If industries and ports are set up on the banks of the Teesta River like the Suqian city of Jiangsu Province in China, it will generate jobs for about 20 lakh population.”

Describing the topographical nature of Teesta, he said that every year huge water and sands flow over the river during the rainy season due to the tortuous nature of it.

“If the width of the river is reduced due to river training, it will affect the biodiversity of the river. This matter should also be considered while implementing the project,” he said.

He further recommended that the other rivers connected with the main channel of Teesta should also be seriously taken into consideration so that the other rivers are not affected.

“All the rivers, tributaries and canals should also be connected properly with the Teeta master plan. The northern region should be saved from desertification. The lives and livelihoods of crores of people should be saved,” he said.

He also highlighted that the Teesta fair water sharing has not been implemented over the last 51 years though the Ganga water sharing deal has been implemented.