Let’s Share Torsa Water, Not Teesta Water: Mamata to Sheikh Hasina.
New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday met Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and offered to share water from the smaller Torsa river instead of Teesta river water.
"The fact is there is no water in Teesta.
Due to water scarcity the NTPC power plant has been closed.
During the meet Mamata is learnt to have stressed upon the fact that West Bengal needs water for irrigation and drinking purposes and pointed out that during the summer Teesta becomes almost becomes dry.
About 113 km of the river is in China and 145 km in Bhutan.
In West Bengal, Torsa flows through the tea estate of Dalsingpara (in Jalpaiguri) and the Jaldapara National Park (Alipurduar District).
Mamata has always expressed her unwillingness to share Teesta water with Bangladesh.
During lean season from April to June the average flow dips to 6 BCM in the low lying areas of North Bengal and Bangladesh.
This makes a 50:50 water-sharin ratio difficult to maintain for Bengal.