DHAKA: The water flow of Teesta River has decreased to the maximum level lately. As a result the Tessta
Barrage, country’s largest irrigation project, has become good for nothing. The farmers of the country rarely get any benefit from the project.

In these circumstances, the government is planning to set up deep tube wells to get remedy from this crisis.

Foreign Ministry and Water Resources Ministry sources said that the Indian government had reduced supplying the water of Teesta from last year. From February this year, the situation became worse than earlier.

The water supply reduced to 300-400 Cusecs in summer instead of 3,000 Cusecs.
Earlier, the farmers of Dimla upazila of Nilphamari district were used to farming around 5-lac hectors of land where they are now struggling to farm around only 3,000-hector of land for the lack of irrigation.

The secretary of Water Resources Ministry Dr. Jafor Ahmed Khan said that the government is planning for setting up deep tube well to get rid of this crisis.

Institute of Water Modeling is conducting a survey to set up deep tube wells where needed the most for availing the irrigation facility to the farmers, he added.

Joint River Commission sources said that the range of Teesta Irrigation Project is decreasing day by day. The cultivation target was around 65,000 hectors in 2013 but now it decreased to 20,000-hector. Literally, the farmers are suffering to cultivate 3,000 hectors of land, sources added.

A high official of Foreign Ministry said that this year the water availability of Teesta is less than any previous period. The government is concerned about the Teesta water issue meanwhile the Foreign Ministry has issued a note verbale (a diplomatic communication prepared in the third person and unsigned) to New Delhi in this regard.

The issue was discussed in two countries’ secretary level meeting as well. However, India assured that they will look into the matter, he added.

Experts said that if India continues the unilateral policy then the Teesta Irrigation Project will be abolished soon.

Foreign Ministry sources admitted about their several initiatives for signing Teesta agreement with India. After the whole ministry is looking for new ways to fix the issue by signing a short-term agreement with India in stead of permanent deal, they added.

BDST: 1307 HRS, APR 13, 2014