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Context

The tourism department of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) resumed rafting in the Teesta river.

Details

Teesta River

• Teesta river is a major right bank tributary of the Brahmaputra (known as Jamuna in Bangladesh), flowing through India and Bangladesh.
• It is 414 km long with a total catchment area of 12,159 km2.

Origin

• It originates in the Himalayas near the Tso Lhamo Lake, in Sikkim and flows to the south through West Bengal before entering Bangladesh.
• Source: Pahurni glacier, Khangse glacier and ChhoLhamo Lake are also considered the sources of the Teesta River.

River basin

• The major portion of the river basin lies in India and only 17% of it is in Bangladesh.
• Teesta basin is home to around 30 million people, 2% in Sikkim, 27% in West Bengal; and 71% in northwest Bangladesh

Major Tributaries of Teesta River

• Left-bank Tributaries: Lachung Chhu, Chakung Chhu, Dik Chhu, Rani Khola and Rangpo Chhu.
• Right-bank Tributaries: Zemu Chhu, Rangyong Chhu and Rangit River.
• The river joins the Brahmaputra in Bangladesh before it flows into the Bay of Bengal after meeting with the Ganges and the Meghna.

Barrages and projects

• There are two large barrages on Teesta that diverts water for mainly irrigation purpose: one at Gajoldobha in India and the other at Duani in Bangladesh.
• Teesta -V Dam : 510MW, Gangtok district, Sikkim.
• Teesta III Dam : 1200 MW, Mangan district, Sikkim.
• Teesta Low Dam III : 132MW , Kalimpong district, West Bengal.
• Teesta Low Dam IV: 160MW, Kalimpong district, West Bengal
• Barakhata Teesta Barrage, Bangladesh.
• Teesta VI Dam: 500MW, Gangtok district, Sikkim.
• Rangit III Dam: On Greater Rangeet River which is a tributary of Teesta River. Output:60MW, Gyalshing district.
• Gati Hydropower Project: A 110 MW Gati Hydropower Project lies on River Rangpo, a tributary of River Teesta. Location Pakyong District in Sikkim
• Dikchu River Hydroelectric Power Project: Output: 96 MW on Dikchu River, tributary of River Teesta, Gangtok district, Sikkim.
• Madhya Bharat Power Corporation Limited : on Ranikhola, a tributary of Teesta, Output: 96MW Gangtok district, Sikkim.

Water sharing conflict

• Disputes over the appropriate allocation and development of the water resources of the river have remained a subject of conflict between India and Bangladesh for almost 35 years, with several bilateral agreements and rounds of talks failing to produce results.
• Negotiations have been going on since 1983.
• In 1983, a temporary solution had been worked out— Bangladesh would get 36%, India would get 39% while the rest of the water remained unallocated.
• Both countries signed a water sharing treaty in 1996 which would look into water sharing between the two countries.

PRACTICE QUESTION Gajoldobha barrage is associated with which of the following river? Ganga Hooghly Teesta Brahmaputra Answer C