• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

ClearIAS

UPSC: Latest News, IAS, IPS, UPSC Online Preparation

UPSC Prelims Test Series 2021Enroll Now
  • Home
  • Start
    • IAS
    • IAS Exam Eligibility
    • UPSC
    • UPSC Syllabus
    • UPSC Exam Date
    • UPSC Results
    • FAQs
  • Programs
    • Prelims
    • Mains
    • Interview
  • Buy
    • Courses
    • Mock Test Series
    • IAS Books
    • eBooks (PDF)
  • Free
    • Study Materials
    • Guidance
    • eBooks (PDFs)
    • Mock Exams
    • ClearIAS App
    • Downloads
  • Toppers
  • Blog
  • Login
ClearIAS » Current Affairs Notes » Teesta River Dispute between India and Bangladesh Explained

Teesta River Dispute between India and Bangladesh Explained

Last updated on May 27, 2017 by Clear IAS Team

The Teesta river dispute makes headlines every time there is a bilateral talk between India and Bangladesh. The dispute is regarding water sharing of River Teesta. Bangladesh wants a higher share than it gets now. Currently, its share is lower than that of India’s.

This article gives a broad insight on the river water sharing dispute, a timeline of various commissions formed, proposed alternative solutions etc.

Teesta River – States it pass through

Rivers in North India

  •  Teesta is a 414km long river flowing through the Indian states of West Bengal, Sikkim before going to the Bay of Bengal through Bangladesh.
  • It is the fourth largest transboundary river shared between India and Bangladesh after Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna river systems.
  • Total catchment area: 1.75 million Sq. km
Total length
414km
Sikkim
151km
Sikkim-West Bengal Boundary
142km
Bangladesh
121km

Main rivers in north bengal

Importance of Teesta River to Bangladesh and West Bengal

For Bangladesh:

According to the report of Asian Foundation in 2013, its flood plain covers about 14% of the total cropped area of Bangladesh and provides direct livelihood opportunities to approximately 73% of its population.

For West Bengal

Teesta is the lifeline of North Bengal and almost half a dozen of districts of West Bengal are dependent on the waters of Teesta.

130+ Prelims Marks is Possible. Only if you are guided the right way.

Join ClearIAS Prelims Test Series 2021.

Take a Free Test

Teesta River Dispute – The Timeline of the Negotiation Events

Teesta River
The negotiations on how to share the water have been going on since 1972.

  • 1972: Joint River Commission (JRC) was established by India and Bangladesh in the Indo-Bangla Treaty of Friendship.
  • 1983: Agreement on Ad-Hoc sharing of Teesta water. According to agreement Ad-Hoc sharing is valid until 1985 end.
India
39%
Bangladesh
36%
Unallocated
25%
  • 1984: According to 1984 JRC, Bangladesh’s share increased based on the hydrological data.
India
42.5%
Bangladesh
37.5%
Unallocated
20%
  • 1998: Bangladesh started “Teesta Barrage” irrigation project (3 cropping seasons per year).
  • 2011: an Interim deal that was supposed to last for 15 years – gave India 42.5% and Bangladesh 37.5% of Teesta water.

Note: However, West Bengal and Sikkim opposed an interim deal, since then the deal was shelved and remains unsigned due to the objections of West Bengal.

The federal angle of the Teesta River Issue

Teesta vs Brahmaputra

  • Article 253 of Indian Constitution gives power to the Union Government to enter any transboundary river water related treaty with a riparian state.
  • The centre cannot do it arbitrarily without taking into consideration the social, political and eco-impact of such a treaty in the catchment area.
  • In 2011, the West Bengal government commissioned a study on the Teesta issue under the noted hydrologist Kalyan Rudra.
  • This is not acceptable to Bangladesh, where the water is required mainly during December – April period which is considered to be the leanest.

West Bengal’s Objection

Why Bengal needs Teesta

  • Connection to global warming: Many of the glaciers on the Teesta river basin have retreated, says a strategic foresight group, a Mumbai think tank.
  • Estimates suggested that Teesta River has a mean average flow of approximately 60 billion cubic meters, of which significant amount flows during June and September and October to April is considered to be a lean season.
  • Any treaty will dry out northern region of West Bengal and will hurt farmers.
  • In 1998, Bangladesh’s Teesta barrage began, and the farmers of Bangladesh enjoyed 3 cropping seasons per year and don’t deserve any more water.
  • Project in West Bengal aims at irrigating 9,22,000 hectares of land in North Bengal and provides 67.60 MW of hydropower. Any water sharing with Bangladesh will hamper the project.

The Alternative solutions proposed by West Bengal

Teesta Barrage

  • Mamata Banerjee proposed sharing of rivers like the Torsa, which are closer to the border of Sikkim and Bangladesh.
  • The Torsa, in fact, has connectivity with Bangladesh’s Padma.
  • She proposed that the two countries set up a commission to ascertain the level of water flowing through the Torsa and the quantum of water that can be shared.

Bangladesh’s stand on Teesta River Dispute

Central Bangladesh

  • India already enjoys a share of 55% of the river water.
  • Bangladesh claims 50% of the water between December and May every year because that’s when the water flow to the country drops drastically.
  • Over 1 lakh hectares of land in Rangpur – its rice bowl cannot be cultivated for winter crops due to excessive withdrawal of water by India.
  • Bangladesh demands a fair share of river waters during the dry season.

Political Angle of Teesta River Dispute

  • The previous Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) govt. headed by Begum Khaleda Zia was not very receptive to India’s concern.
  • The BNP, during its tenure in power between 1991-1996 and again from 2001 to 2006, provided shelter to leaders and cadres from various North East based terror outfits.
  • But Sheikh Hasina’s Bangladesh Awami League(BAL) party followed India-friendly policies and also adopted a zero tolerance policy against anti-Indian terror outfits and eventually ULFA was banned.
  • The cooperation between the two nations facilitated the finalisation of land boundary agreement.
  • The Teesta River water deal as anticipated will help Delhi get more political leverage which it thinks is necessary to check the rising influence of China in the Bay of Bengal region.

Conclusion

  • Bangladesh is a significant neighbourhood for India with a shared history, culture, religion and many more common elements.
  • For Bangladesh, this issue is still considered to be a prolonged suffering inflicted by India.
  • The cooperation of Bangladesh is important to India and without such liberal regimes in neighbouring countries, India cannot become terror free.
  • Bangladesh is an essential element for India to get connected with North East.
  • Considering the strategic importance of Bangladesh and as a responsible upper riparian state, India needs to take proactive steps for early conclusion of Teesta agreement.

Article by: P. Ujwala

Don't miss the latest updates of ClearIAS!

Join ClearIAS Telegram Chanel.

Get free studymaterials and guidance.

Join for FREE

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Share1K
Tweet
WhatsApp
1K Shares

Integrate Learning With Test-Taking!

Is UPSC Prelims your weak area?

Don’t worry!

We can help you score high marks!

Are you ready to practise the right way?

Yes, I want ClearIAS to help me score high!

Get our newsletter

Don't miss our email updates!

About Clear IAS Team

ClearIAS provides online IAS coaching, guidance, strategies, books, online study-materials and mock tests with a vision that no candidate should be left out of UPSC exam competition due to in-accessibility of expensive IAS classroom coaching.

We write simple, easy to understand articles, but always ensure high standards of quality.

Rated among the best, emerging online test preparation startups, Clear IAS also offers for free, the popular Clear IAS android app.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sanjoy says

    May 29, 2017 at 4:24 pm

    awesome article

    Reply
  2. Sanjoy says

    May 29, 2017 at 4:25 pm

    lucid and clear

    Reply
  3. Ishfaq Ahmad says

    June 10, 2017 at 10:24 am

    Nice…

    Reply
  4. Agneeshwaran says

    September 1, 2017 at 7:46 pm

    How the river water sharing is measured and if Bangladesh seeks more water why can’t the same claim be made by India?

    Reply
  5. Agneeshwaran says

    September 1, 2017 at 7:48 pm

    Why in the winter time the flow is reduced?

    Reply
    • Deepak Chauhan says

      March 26, 2019 at 1:04 am

      In winter time the ice is not melted at the same rate as in summers.

  6. Prithvi Nishad says

    September 8, 2019 at 5:28 pm

    thanks for the article Sir!

    Reply
  7. S Ahmad says

    October 22, 2019 at 2:19 am

    How much goodwill there is between Govts. of India and Bangladesh? Not much, I suppose.
    Why I say so?
    I think India is interested only to have her link with seven sister states through Bangladesh and keep China out of the country. India bother less for Bangladeshi people.
    What present Bangladesh govt needs from India? Help to remain in power and ready to give anything India needs.
    Crook governments both India and Bangladesh have. If honest and sincere govts they were, they could find reasonable solution to any problem. That is the fact. Otherwise why land-boundary treaty took over 40 years? And what sort of boundary is it? And, why there should be boarder killing even today?

    Reply
  8. ASHOK KUMAR GOEL says

    March 29, 2021 at 6:58 pm

    For Share of Teesta river waters:
    1. It should be based on areas in both countries which can be cultivated from its water.
    2. Length of the river in both countries after leaving mountains, should be also given wattage while deciding share of waters.
    3. No political consideration be considered for water sharing agreement.
    4. China factor or terrorism hideouts, or location of Bangladesh should not be considered for water sharing agreement.
    5. Daily based available water should be shared on daily basis.
    6. Local farmers and residents right to the water is prime instead of political government considerations.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Aim to be an IAS Officer?

Nothing can beat practice!

Join ClearIAS Prelims Test Series 2021

Practice 40+ online mock exams!

Limited Period Offer: 40% OFF!

Enroll Now!

ClearIAS Study Materials for UPSC Prelims and Mains

  • Indian History - Indian History and Culture.
  • Geography - Indian and World Geography.
  • Economics - Indian Economy.
  • Indian Polity - Constitution, Social Justice etc.
  • General Science - Science and Technology.
  • Environment - Biodiversity, Climate Change etc.
  • Current Affairs - National and international.

ClearIAS Study Materials for UPSC Mains (Extra-Topics)

  • World History - GS paper 1.
  • Indian Society - GS paper 1.
  • Foreign Relations - GS paper 2.
  • International Affairs - GS paper 2.
  • Internal Security - GS paper 3.
  • Disaster Management - GS paper 3.
  • Ethics - GS paper 4.

ClearIAS Study Materials for UPSC Mains (Paper-wise)

  • Essay Paper
  • GS 1 Paper
  • GS 2 Paper
  • GS 3 Paper
  • GS 4 Paper

ClearIAS Online Mock Exams (Prelims and Mains)

  • Prelims Mock Exams
  • Mains Mock Exams (AWP)

Congrats! You are at the right place - ClearIAS!

  • 1 million+ monthly users!
  • 9,00,000+ ClearIAS App Downloads!
  • 4,50,000+ Facebook Followers!
  • 3,50,000+ Email Subscribers!
  • 3,00,000+ Registered Aspirants!

Prepare for UPSC Online!

Get Started

UPSC Online Preparation Guidance

  • UPSC - Union Public Service Commission
  • IAS - Indian Administrative Service
  • Civil Services Exam (CSE) - Exam Pattern
  • UPSC Syllabus - Subjects to learn
  • IAS Books - Books to learn
  • UPSC CSE Eligibility - Who can appear?
  • UPSC Exam Dates - When should you apply?
  • UPSC Result - Check UPSC Results
  • UPSC FAQs - Clarify your queries

What do toppers' say about ClearIAS?

Poonam Dalal

"Working 24*7 in the police for the last 5 years and been out of touch with the preparation, I took the guidance from your website, especially the ClearIAS prelims test series. I bought it and found it to be the best available online." - Poonam Dalal, ClearIAS Online Student

Read more reviews by UPSC Toppers...

Enroll in

ClearIAS UPSC Prelims Online Test Series 2021

Score High in the IAS Exam!

Trusted by Toppers

Limited Period Offer: 40% Discount!

Enroll now

Don’t lose out without playing the right game!

Adopt the 3 Strategies for Success in the UPSC Civil Services Exam.

Learn UPSC Strategies

  • Home
  • IAS
  • UPSC
  • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Login

UPSC Online Preparation

  • Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
  • Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
  • Indian Police Service (IPS)
  • IAS Exam Eligibility
  • UPSC Free Study Materials
  • UPSC Exam Guidance
  • UPSC Prelims Test Series
  • UPSC Syllabus
  • UPSC Online
  • UPSC Books
  • UPSC Prelims
  • UPSC Mains
  • UPSC Interview

ClearIAS

  • About ClearIAS
  • ClearIAS Programs
  • IAS Coaching
  • Announcements
  • Book Review
  • ClearIAS App
  • Sitemap
  • Work with us
  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us

UPSC 2021

UPSC Exam Calendar 2021

Follow us

Follow us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFollow us on YouTubeFollow us on ClearIAS Learning AppFollow us on ClearIAS Test Prep AppFollow us on Telegram

Featured on

ClearIAS Featured in The Hindu
ClearIAS Featured in the Times of India
ClearIAS Featured in the New Indian Express
ClearIAS Featured in the Yourstory

and many more...

Copyright © 2020 - ClearIAS.com