China-Bangladesh Teesta Deal: Can It Reshape River Without Disrupting India?

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has received assurance from China on building the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project. The discussion took place during Mr. Rahman's visit to Beijing from June 24 to 26, where he met top Chinese officials, including Premier Li Qiang, President Xi Jinping, and Chinese Water Resources Minister Li Guoying.

China, known for its expertise in harnessing major rivers for power generation and irrigation, is expected to expedite a feasibility study of the Teesta project. The project aims to alter the physical nature of the Teesta inside Bangladesh and transform it into an artery of economic development.

What is the Chinese proposal on Teesta about?

Bangladesh has been in discussions with China regarding the management and development of the Teesta river region for nearly a decade. These talks began under the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and have been continued by the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party government.

In January of this year, under the interim government led by Prof. Mohammed Yunus, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and the Chinese state-owned power generation company POWERCHINA signed an extension to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This revived cooperation between Bangladesh and China on the river. The original MoU was signed in 2016 under the Sheikh Hasina government, which suggested river bank erosion control, flood management, disaster reduction, land reclamation, transportation, and environment preservation as features of China's plans for the Teesta.

The MoU includes dredging of 140 million cubic metres of riverine sediment, reclamation of 171 square kilometres of land, repairing 110 kilometres of embankment, constructing 124 kilometres of new embankments, and developing 224 kilometres of road network. The project would also lead to the construction of 82 jetty facilities along the Teesta. As a lower riparian project, the Chinese plans cannot disrupt the Teesta upstream in India, and it aims to create conditions for Bangladesh to better utilise the water it currently receives from India.

What problem does Bangladesh face on the Teesta?

Teesta's water is essential for farmers in northern Bangladesh, covering districts like Nilphamari, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Bogura, Joypurhat, and Gaibandha. Bangladesh's main complaint is that the Teesta's water reduces to a trickle during the winter months between December and February, when water is required for sowing paddy and vegetables.

To address its water requirements, Bangladesh built the Teesta Barrage, the country's largest irrigation project, in the 1990s. The Teesta Barrage Irrigation Project (TBIP) was designed to help the northern region, which historically suffered from Teesta floods followed by long dry spells, both of which disrupted the local agricultural cycle.

India has built barrages and electricity projects upstream in the Teesta, allowing it to harvest the river's waters for requirements in West Bengal, Sikkim, and Assam. The most prominent among these is the barrage at Gajoldoba in West Bengal, a major irrigation project controlled by the West Bengal government.

Whenever India holds water for its needs at Gajoldoba or in power generation units in Sikkim, Bangladesh claims that the part of the Teesta on its side experiences low water levels. For example, in November last year, TBIP had to shut all its gates as the water flow on the Teesta had reduced. TBIP stores water for nearly 55,000 hectares of land, but the reduction of water on the river raises concerns, as lack of water affects both irrigation and commercial activities.

What is the importance of Teesta to India?

Teesta originates from the high-altitude Cholamu or Tso Lhamu Lake (5,100 metres) in the Himalayan range in Sikkim. As the river flows down, it gathers volume from multiple glaciers and streams. India has built multiple barrages and hydropower projects upstream, which are crucial for irrigation and power generation in the region. The river supports agriculture and livelihoods in Sikkim, West Bengal, and Assam. Any changes in the river's flow downstream in Bangladesh could have implications for India's water sharing commitments, as both countries share the Teesta's waters under bilateral agreements.

The Teesta River is a vital resource for both India and Bangladesh, and the proposed Chinese project has added a new dimension to the long-standing water-sharing discussions. While China's involvement could bring technical expertise and funding, it also raises questions about regional dynamics and the need for cooperation among all riparian states.