Mamata warns Teesta dying amid hydropower expansion

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has voiced deep concern over the deteriorating state of the Teesta River, accusing the Sikkim government and India’s central authorities of allowing extensive hydropower development that is severely damaging the river system.

Speaking at a review meeting in Siliguri on Sunday, she said discussions often focus on sharing Teesta water with Bangladesh, while the river itself is being pushed towards extinction.

“They talk about giving Teesta water to Bangladesh, but no one wants to save the Teesta. In Sikkim, 14 hydropower projects have blocked the river. When floods hit, the water rushes downstream and devastates Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, and Naxalbari,” she said.

Calling the obstruction of the river a “crime”, Mamata questioned how such projects received central approval. She blamed excessive rainfall, water release from Bhutan, and ongoing hydropower construction in Sikkim for recent floods and landslides across North Bengal.

She noted that around 43% of West Bengal is affected by floods every year, with river catchment areas located in Sikkim and Bhutan contributing to frequent overflow in Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar. Forests, agricultural land and tea estates are being destroyed, she added.

Mamata said the state had earlier proposed forming a joint river commission with Bhutan for better management of transboundary rivers.

She also pointed to water releases from DVC dams such as Panchet and Maithon, which she said lead to flooding in Burdwan, Bankura, Birbhum, Howrah, Hooghly and Midnapore during heavy rains.

She described the recurring floods as “man-made disasters”.

Turning to political issues, Mamata criticised the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of voter lists, calling it rushed and politically driven. She alleged that the process was being used to influence electoral outcomes and demanded more time for fair inclusion of voters.

On allegations of infiltration from Bangladesh and Rohingya migration, she questioned the central government’s responsibility in managing borders and security agencies, stating that the union home minister should be held accountable if such infiltration occurs.

The meeting was attended by senior state officials. Mamata’s remarks have once again brought the unresolved Teesta water-sharing issue between India and Bangladesh back into focus.