20 rivers dying for withdrawal of Teesta water by India
NILPHAMARI: Unilateral withdrawal of water from Teesta river in the upstream by India has badly affected more than 20 of its tributaries, many of them are drying up, in the northern part of the country.At least 10 of the rivers, once criss-crossed like serpents and flowed full to the brim in Nilphamari district, have now dried up because of the impact of withdrawal. These rivers are: Jobuneshwary, Charalkata, Deonai, Kherua, Buri Teesta, Kolomdor, Korotoa, Ghoramara and Kalidhoha.
About 15 to 20 years ago the rivers had water flowing all the year round, but now-a-days water is not available in most of these rivers during the dry season. According to environmentalists, due to fall in water flow these rivers develop silts and they are drying up.
The ecological balance of this region is being seriously affected causing sufferings to the people living on the river basin. Due to drying up of the rivers the farmers of the region are being deprived of the natural sources for water for irrigation. This leaves an adverse impact on fruit-bearing trees and various crops.
About 80 to 90 per cent of the mango and jack-fruit trees of this zone have completely lost their ability to blossom. Currently, neither mango trees nor jack-fruit trees in the region have fruits due to the reason.
Md Sirajul Haque, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension in the district, told The Independent that owing to the unilateral withdrawal of water from two rivers --Teesta and Korotoa --by India the flow of water in the downstream and their tributaries has fallen drastically.
This has also resulted in abnormal depletion of ground water level. He said the government will have to take the initiative to dredge and re-excavate these silted rivers and begin bilateral talks with India regarding the sharing of the water of Teesta and Korotoa rivers immediately in order to save this region from environmental disaster.
20 rivers dying for withdrawal of Teesta water by India