Excitement runs high among the people of the northern region as they will get a planned city, tourist spot and modern irrigation system around the river Teesta on implementation of the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project.
And it will be the gift for the northern people from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the “MujibBarsho.”
The Chinese government has expressed its interest to fund almost US$ 1 billion for the project titled "Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project" to restore the ecosystem and flow of the river.
Power Construction Corporation of China (Powerchina) has already completed a feasibility study and also prepared a master plan to implement the project, according to the ministry of water resources.
Earlier, the ministry in a letter to the Economic Relations Division (ERD) in July, sought a $983.27 million loan from China to implement a "Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project."
Under the project, 220 km of guide dams will be constructed on both the banks of the Teesta River. There will be beach-like marine drives on either side of the dam that will allow tourists to go for long drives. Also goods will be transported through this road. Hotels, motels, restaurants and tourist cities will be built on both sides of the river.
Besides, in the name of Rangpur and Lalmonirhat- modern planned cities, towns, and ports will be developed there. Project concerned people are hopeful that the planned development will facelift Teesta bank areas to turn into beautiful places like Switzerland and Singapore.
The project also includes a 150 megawatt solar power plant, modern agricultural farm with latest irrigation services and equipment, and new waterways to be introduced once the project is implemented.
It may be recalled, Teesta has become a curse and sorrow for the northern part of the country. During the rains, the two shores are flooded and washed away, while in dry season people and farmers experience drought. On the other hand, India built an irrigation project at Ghazaldoba in Kaliganj, 75 km upstream of the proposed project area, through which India has been controlling the waters of the river Teesta for a long time.
However after several attempts to get proper share of Teesta water from India, the government has finally taken up this project to save millions of people in the region. The project will be completed at an estimated cost of Tk 8000 crore. Once implemented, the project will bring thousand crore taka in investment.
The Water Development Board's northern region chief Jyoti Prasad Ghosh told Bangladesh Post, "It's a massive development activity for this region. If the coronavirus outbreak had not stagnated everything, we would have achieved good progress in the project implementation.
Our main aim is to build dams on both banks of the Teesta River to hold sufficient reserves of water. As the navigability of the river is not the same everywhere, we will increase its depth to ensure water flow of around five lakh cusecs to its different channels".
"Besides we have also planned to develop modern towns, cities, ports, and tourism attractions. These will certainly bring about huge investment and generate employment opportunities for the region’s people," he added.
Director General of the Water Development Board, A M Aminul Haque said, "A Chinese organisation Yellow River Engineering China has shown interest in providing technical and financial assistance. The Chinese government now wants to provide loans at lower interest. However, they have conducted the feasibility study with their own fund. As we have already written to the ERD for foreign investment, the project will get new pace soon."
The government led by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken up a mega plan to make the people of Lalmonirhat economically solvent, rehabilitate landless people, stop river-erosion, and create employment opportunities etc.
