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Question 55 of 131 · Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India
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Which river has been a long-standing issue of water sharing between India and Bangladesh?

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Answer: Option D — Teesta

Detailed Solution

Sharing the waters of the Teesta river, especially during the dry season, has been a long-standing issue between India and Bangladesh.

About the Teesta:

  • It rises in the Himalayas of North Sikkim, from glaciers and glacial lakes such as Tso Lhamo and the Zemu glacier area.
  • It flows through Sikkim and the northern part of West Bengal (past Jalpaiguri), then enters Bangladesh.
  • In Bangladesh, it joins the Brahmaputra (Jamuna).
  • Its length is about 414 km.
  • It is called the "lifeline of Sikkim".

Why it is disputed:

  • Bangladesh depends on the Teesta for irrigation in its northern districts, especially during the dry season.
  • India has built barrages and hydroelectric projects on the river, such as the Gajoldoba Barrage in West Bengal, which divert water for irrigation, reducing flow downstream.

Negotiations:

  • An interim agreement for sharing the Teesta's waters was almost finalised in 2011, during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka.
  • It could not be signed because the West Bengal government objected that it would harm farmers in north Bengal.
  • Bangladesh has also discussed a large Teesta river management project, with Chinese interest, which has raised strategic concerns in India.

Teesta floods of 2023:

In October 2023, a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) from the South Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, along with heavy rain, caused flash floods in the Teesta valley. It destroyed the Chungthang Dam of the Teesta-III hydropower project and killed many people.

Other India-Bangladesh water issues:

  • The Ganga waters were shared through a treaty in 1996.
  • The two countries share 54 rivers in total.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗The Kosi and Gandak are rivers that flow from Nepal into Bihar.
  • ✗The Mahananda flows through north Bengal and Bihar into Bangladesh, but it is not the main subject of dispute.

Quick tip

Remember: Teesta = Sikkim and north Bengal river; water-sharing deal with Bangladesh pending since 2011; 2023 GLOF disaster.

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Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers India's drainage system: the Himalayan rivers (the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra systems), the peninsular rivers (Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada, Tapi and Mahanadi), their tributaries and origins, waterfalls, lakes, and the major dams and multipurpose river projects. Exams ask about the origin of a river, its tributaries, the cities on its banks, and the river on which a dam is built. For example, the Bhakra Nangal Dam is on the Sutlej, the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi, and the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada. Remember that the Narmada and Tapi flow west into the Arabian Sea, while most peninsular rivers flow east. Practise the rivers, lakes and dams of India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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