• UGI USER
  • Jun 25, 2024
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TEESTA RIVER WATER TREATY

Why in the news?

  • West Bengal Chief Minister wrote to Prime Minister , emphasizing that no discussion on the Teesta river treaty with Bangladesh should occur without the involvement of the State government.
  • Bengal highlighted that sharing Teesta river water with Bangladesh would adversely affect lakhs of people in North Bengal due to inadequate irrigation water availability.
 Source: HT

Historical Context:

  • The Teesta water-sharing agreement between India and Bangladesh was proposed in 2011 under the UPA II government but was stalled due to Bengal’s objections.

About Teesta River

  • The Teesta river is a tributary of the Brahmaputra, known as Jamuna in Bangladesh.
  • It originates in the Himalayas near Chunthang, Sikkim, and flows south through West Bengal into Bangladesh.
  • The Teesta Barrage dam provides irrigation for the plains between the upper Padma and the Jamuna rivers.
Constitutional Provisions on Water

  • State List (Entry 17): Covers water supply, irrigation, canals, drainage, embankments, water storage, and hydro power.
  • Union List (Entry 56): Empowers the Union Government to regulate and develop inter-state rivers and river valleys as declared by Parliament.
  • Article 262:

o   Allows Parliament to adjudicate disputes related to inter-state river waters.

o   Permits Parliament to restrict the Supreme Court and other courts from jurisdiction over such disputes

Associated Article:

 https://universalinstitutions.com/teesta-water-agreement/#:~:text=India%20and%20Bangladesh%20sign%20an,waters%20between%20the%20two%20countries.&text=The%20JRC%20revises%20the%20ad,and%20Bangladesh%20a%2037.5%25%20share