Teesta Master Plan implementation feasibility nearly ends

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman informed Jatiya Sangsad on Wednesday that the feasibility study for implementing the Teesta Master Plan has almost been completed. 

The technical and financial aspects of the feasibility study report are now being examined, he said during the parliamentary question-answer session of the Prime Minister.

"Once the review process is completed and the project is found technically viable, a timeline for implementation will be fixed," he said while replying to a starred question from Gaibandha-1 MP Majedur Rahman.

He said that the Bangladesh Water Development Board completed the study and the feasibility study report has recommended dredging of 110 kilometres of the Teesta River under the Teesta Master Plan.

"Once the review process is completed and the project is found technically viable, a timeline for implementation will be fixed," Tarique said.

He said the Teesta is a fast-flowing river, and excessive rainfall during the monsoon often causes flash floods and riverbank erosion in the region.

"On the other hand, water flow drops sharply during the dry season, and in many places it almost reaches zero," he said.

He also noted that heavy silt carried by monsoon waters causes the riverbed to fill up, splitting the Teesta into multiple channels.