POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Aug 13, 2022: If we want to save Bangladesh, we have to implement the master plan on Adi Teesta, said the water expert Professor Dr. SI Khan. He said this in an exchange meeting with journalists titled ‘I want to implement the Teesta Master Plan’ organized by International Farakka Committee, New York at the National Press Club today (August 13).
Water expert Dr. SI Khan said, Adi Teesta is 24 thousand kilometers long. This entire Teesta meets the Bay of Bengal through India and Bangladesh.
India is not giving fair water of this river to Bangladesh by damming it inside their country. Due to which a region of the country is becoming waterless. Being affected by extreme floods again. So Teesta Master Plan needs to be implemented in a very quick time.
He also said that there are 54 rivers flowing through India through Bangladesh. 52 of which India has dams on its part. Due to which our rivers are almost dead. They have to remove these dams. Or give us our fair share of water. And if they do not give us our fair share of water, then Bangladesh can take help from the international community or a third party. Just as we conquered the sea, we can also get our fair share of water.
Senior Vice President of International Farakka Committee, New York also said Bangladesh has more than 5 million tube wells for water. With which we collect water and use it in daily activities. But as the river water is not in normal flow, the water layer under the ground is gradually decreasing. The rain is not coming on time. And there is no normal flood in the country. Due to which the water layer under the ground is not refilled as much as it should be every year. Meanwhile, the water table is dropping by five feet every year. In this situation, if the water layer drops to 28 feet, water cannot be lifted through the tubewell. The people of the country will cry for water. There is already a cry for water in the northern region.
Dr. SI Khan said, “If India does not give us our fair share, we will have to take help from a third party.” If they don’t give Teesta water, we have to worry about the people of our own country. With that in mind, we have to implement the Teesta Master Plan with China as our partner. At least the people of our country will live in this. Apart from this, there will be many employment opportunities.
Atiqur Rahman Salu, chairman of the International Farakka Committee, New York, said in a written statement that the recent floods in the Sylhet region were the result of ill-advised development activities in Meghalaya and Assam and within Bangladesh. This disaster could have been avoided if basin-based integrated water management was in place. The way Bangladesh is being cut off from the sources of the rivers from India, the green environment of the country is being destroyed day by day. Agriculture, native fish sanctuaries and industries are affected. People are losing their livelihoods and homes.
He said the 30-year Ganga water sharing agreement will expire in 2026. But the people of Bangladesh did not get the benefit of this agreement. Because the water did not come to Bangladesh as per the terms of the agreement. An agreement on Teesta river water management was supposed to be reached in 2011, but it has not yet happened. One-sidedly diverting entire dry season water from Ghajaldoba barrage. And in monsoon, the barrage opens and causes floods in Nilphamari, Kurigram, Gaibandha.
Atiqur Rahman Salu said that the implementation of a water management and restoration master plan in Teesta is necessary to solve this problem. So the government can think about Teesta on China’s proposal. Along with this, if Atrai, Karatoa and Punarbhava rivers located in the old main basin of Teesta are brought under this master plan, the overall development of the north-western region of the country will be ensured.
Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Chief Coordinator of Bangladesh Chapter of Farakka Committee, Central Organizing Secretary Ataur Rahman Ata, former President of Dhaka Reporters Unity Rafiqul Islam Azad and many others were also present at the event.
