India and Bangladesh share 54 transboundary rivers but reached a water-sharing treaty on just one river, Ganga. The Teesta, originating in the Himalayas, flows through West Bengal and emerges downstream as the main river of northern Bangladesh. Its floodplain covers 2037 sq km and supports over 21 million people directly and indirectly.
The Gajoldoba barrage built in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal for irrigation purposes using water from the Teesta River has become a focus point of conflict between two neighboring countries. On one hand, the Gajoldoba barrage significantly energized northern Bengal's agriculture using river irrigation channels benefitting 9 Lakh hectares of land, improving groundwater levels, and bringing economic stability to the region. It helped control flood and river erosion upstream, producing 67.5 MW of hydroelectric power and developing communication between Alipurduar and the Jalpaiguri district. It also creates a marshland where migratory birds visit in the winter thus improving biodiversity and tourist inflow.
On the other hand, such a setting impacted water flow into Bangladesh. Irrigation of over 1 lakh hectares is “severely affected” by India’s withdrawal of the Teesta’s waters. It is estimated that before the construction, the daily average flow of water into Bangladesh was 6,710 cusecs. A flow of 5,000 cusecs of water is needed for irrigation purposes, but Bangladesh is reportedly receiving only 1,200-1,500 cusecs during the dry season. The dams and barrages upstream of the river led to catastrophic consequences downstream where millions of farmers and fishers depend on the river for their livelihoods.
The practice of closing barrage gates during the dry season and opening in the monsoon creates bone-dry conditions in summer and flash floods in the monsoon. The fine grains of sand in the riverbed, carried by the winds in summer, cover the nearby agricultural land, destroying crops and ruining the fertility of the land. As the Teesta River is drying up, many canals and marshes, which used to be fed by the river, have also disappeared from the region which were breeding grounds for many fish species. When water is released during peak monsoon, resisted by the silted riverbed, the ferocious river overflows its banks, eroding lands and livelihoods overnight. This desert and deluge cycle disproportionately harms marginal fishers and farmers. Therefore, Teesta water-sharing becomes a key issue in maintaining peace in the sub-continent and protecting the livelihoods of millions of people.
An egret hunts fish in a dried Teesta riverbed Experts condemn the absence of a proper water-sharing policy between India and Bangladesh causing the river to dry up during the winter season which adversely affects millions of people
Two fishermen return from fishing upstream of the Gajoldoba barrage The water body created by the barrage supports local fishermen to continue their livelihood The opposite phenomenon occurs downstream of the barrage where the river runs dry and fish becomes unavailable
A farmer waters pea plants in the dried riverbed of Teesta in Gajoldoba West Bengal
Farmers dug dried riverbeds in search of water in the dry season As the Teesta River is drying up many canals and marshes which used to be fed by the river have also disappeared from the region which were breeding grounds for many fish species
Two women stand with a child in the Teesta riverbed leading to the Gajoldoba Barrage The dams and barrages upstream of the river led to catastrophic consequences downstream where farmers and fishers depend on the river for their livelihoods
The water flows towards Bangladesh through Gajoldoba Barrage Teesta water-sharing policy have always been a major factor in India-Bangladesh relations and it severely affects the peace in the subcontinent
The Gajoldoba barrage constructed in 1985 brought a lot of controversy to the region It is used to control the flow of water into Bangladesh where it is blamed for the drying of the Teesta River jeopardizing the livelihood of millions of people
A broken embankment during the Sikkim flash floods of 2023 is seen in Gajoldoba village West Bengal Barrages are often criticized for their inability to control floods and causing riverbank erosion in the nearby region
A temporary cremation space is seen on the receding Teesta River
A man collects wood from the riverbed after uprooted trees from upstream drifted downstream during the Sikkim flash flood of 2023 proving the barrage inadequate in controlling floods during the disaster