Sudden spike in Teesta water levels

Water levels in the dry Teesta River have suddenly risen by over 2,000 Cusec.

Nilphamari CorrespondentBijoy Chakrabarty Kajol, bdnews24.com
Published : 22 April 2014, 04:41 PM
Updated : 22 April 2014, 09:34 PM

The water level at Dalia Barrage Point on Tuesday morning was found to be 3,006 Cusec, Dalia Water Development Board Chief Engineer Mahbubur Rahman told bdnews24.com.

Throughout Monday this level was 830 Cusec, he said.

“3,006 Cusec water flowed into the river from India’s Gazaldoba barrage gate,” he said.

The engineer said an average of 5 to 6000 Cusec water was needed in the river, but in the dry season it usually went down to 450-500 Cusec.

But on Apr 13, the water levels went up to 1,500 Cusec. Near the end of the Boro season, the sudden flow was somewhat of a relief to the farmers within the reach of the irrigation channels.
The fresh swell in the river has filled up the irrigation canals, bringing joy to the farmers of the region.
Engineer Rahman said last year in March, three separate measurements had shown water levels of 2,915, 2,487 and 2,952 Cusec water flow in Teesta.
This March, however, three measurements showed 574, 553 and 550 Cusec water flow.
Abu Bakr, a farmer in Itakhola village in Sadar Upazila, has begun preparing for a planting at the news of the sudden flow.
“I could not plant Boro this year because there was no water,” he told bdnews24.com.
“Even though it’s late, I’m trying to get seedlings. I’ll make up for the loss somehow if I can make a harvest,” he added.
Tofael Hossain of Bishmuri village was very happy to be able to water his fields after seven days.
“The paddy was about to die for want of water,” he said.
Taiab Ali Sarker of Doalaparha village, however, was not so hopeful. He believed the water would not be enough to save the harvest at this late time.
Teesta water crisis has put Boro farmers in Nilphamari, Rangpur and Dinajpur in a dire state.
Different political and social organisations have launched movements for fair share of Teesta waters from India.
The BNP launched a long march from Dhaka towards Teesta on Tuesday on the same demands. Their march will end on Wednesday with a rally at the Daila helipad of Teesta barrage.

The barrage point, however, is overflowing with water right now.