Teesta flow increases despite lack of pact: Minister
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Minister for Water Resources Ramesh Chandra Sen Wednesday said the flow in the common River Teesta enhanced in Bangladesh part with the opening of three gates in the upstream Indian region despite the absence of an agreement, reports BSS.
"The quantum of flow now ranges between 3,000 to 3,500 cusec (cubic feet per second) which earlier ranged between 1,000 and 12,000 cusec," Mr Sen told the news agency after his return from New Delhi joining the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) meeting.
He added that the flow increased as India opened up three out of 65 gates of Gozoldoba embankment in the upstream Nadia district easing the irrigation process in greater Rangpur, Dinajpur, Nilphamari and several other northwestern districts.
The Minister said Bangladesh also expected enhanced flow in the Ichhamati as India started dredging the river in southwestern region.
The Minister led the 16-member Bangladesh delegation that included Prime Minister's adviser for Economic Affairs Dr Mashiur Rahman and Water Resources Secretary Sheikh Mohammad Wahid-Uz Zaman at the JRC meeting from March 17-19 in the Indian capital that took place after a lapse of five years.
"The enhanced flow is the outcome of the JRC meeting, which brought the situation in Bangladesh's favour," Sen said.
Officials of the water resources and foreign ministries said the JRC meeting decided to hold immediately another secretary-level meeting which was expected to be followed by an expected interim agreement on the Teesta River water sharing.
Earlier reports, however, expected the JRC meet to yield an interim deal ensuring equal shares of Teesta waters while the two countries would be able to resolve water sharing of all the common rivers one by one.
"The quantum of flow now ranges between 3,000 to 3,500 cusec (cubic feet per second) which earlier ranged between 1,000 and 12,000 cusec," Mr Sen told the news agency after his return from New Delhi joining the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) meeting.
He added that the flow increased as India opened up three out of 65 gates of Gozoldoba embankment in the upstream Nadia district easing the irrigation process in greater Rangpur, Dinajpur, Nilphamari and several other northwestern districts.
The Minister said Bangladesh also expected enhanced flow in the Ichhamati as India started dredging the river in southwestern region.
The Minister led the 16-member Bangladesh delegation that included Prime Minister's adviser for Economic Affairs Dr Mashiur Rahman and Water Resources Secretary Sheikh Mohammad Wahid-Uz Zaman at the JRC meeting from March 17-19 in the Indian capital that took place after a lapse of five years.
"The enhanced flow is the outcome of the JRC meeting, which brought the situation in Bangladesh's favour," Sen said.
Officials of the water resources and foreign ministries said the JRC meeting decided to hold immediately another secretary-level meeting which was expected to be followed by an expected interim agreement on the Teesta River water sharing.
Earlier reports, however, expected the JRC meet to yield an interim deal ensuring equal shares of Teesta waters while the two countries would be able to resolve water sharing of all the common rivers one by one.