Bangladesh has adopted a mega project for the management of the Teesta River, with China agreeing to fund it. We are about to receive soon nearly $1 billion in assistance from China for a multi purpose project on the Teesta. The project will help the river maintain optimal levels during the drought season among other benefits. China Power Company has been carrying out a two years long feasibility study on the project at its own cost which is now complete. The External Resources Division (ERD) of Bangladesh has formally approved the project. Government of Bangladesh (GOB) is getting ready to start tendering process from November or December next with the Chinese company that would implement the project.

On completion, the project will bring permanent blessing to the five northern districts of Bangladesh that suffer regularly and seasonally from flooding of the Teesta river and from insufficient waters in it during the dry season. These sufferings will become things of the past as the Teesta will be dredged in such a manner that its water holding capacity will increase a great deal making available ample water in it to fully meet the irrigation needs of Bangladesh in the dry season.

Bangladesh will not need to badger India regularly in the dry season to take steps to increase flow in the Teesta. Thus, an irritant will be gone in bilateral relations between the two countries though Bangladesh will be free and at ease to click deal with India on Teesta water sharing in the long run. However, we will not be under any desperation for such a deal right away reflecting our self sufficiency in the matter.

The other major spin off from the project will be complete cessation of the flooding people under the Bangladesh side of the river have to face almost every year during the rainy season. The dredged river will ensure retention of enough waters within its channels so that the same do not spill its banks. The depth of the Teesta will increase by 10 meters after the dredging. The dredged soil will be put to multiple uses under the project.

According to a primary estimate of the Bangladesh Water Development Board, a loan of $983.27 million will be required to start implementing the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project. Of the amount, $853.05 million is supposed to be funded from Chinese loan and the rest from the Bangladesh government’s fund.

The government expects to reclaim 170.87 square kilometres of land from the Teesta by dredging its main channel. At the same time, it plans to build dams on a needs-based approach. The land that is planned to be reclaimed is worth $1,570.84 million, while the value of properties that the newly built dams will save is estimated at $1,346.02 million. The total benefit accruing from the project will be $2,916.89 million.

A number of major developmental works – such as the setting up of an economic zone, planned townships, power plants and expansion of farming – will be possible on the reclaimed land, according to the feasibility study . In the industrial park on the project site, there will be garment factories, textile mills, fertiliser factories, agricultural products processing plants, feed factories and a warehouse.

The Teesta River originates in the Himalayas and flows through the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh, where it flows into the Brahmaputra. The river is 315 kilometres in length, of which 113 kilometres flow through Bangladesh. The Teesta is 0.70 kilometre to 5.5 kilometres wide in its Bangladesh part, while its average width is 3.1 kilometres.
It may be recalled that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought Chinese assistance on her visit to Beijing in July last year for the implementation of the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration project. At the time, Chinese President Xi Jinping had assured Sheikh Hasina of his support for the project.
The Teesta mega project will be the second one after the Padma Bridge project with major Chinese assistance. It will be a splendid successful symbol of the developmental initiatives of the present incumbent government of Bangladesh under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Everything needs to be done by GOB in a proactive manner to push ahead with this nationally very important projects to prevent it from getting delayed.