West Bengal to dredge Teesta riverbed in India
India's West Bengal irrigation department has decided to dredge the upstream portion of the Teesta River to mitigate flood risks in downstream regions.
Irrigation department officials have stated that dredging the Teesta basin will address the breaches in river spurs. These spurs are extensions of the embankment designed to protect vulnerable riverbanks.
In a media briefing in Kolkata, officials mentioned that the Teesta's swollen state since the onset of the monsoon posed significant risks to residents near the riverbanks. Therefore, removing excess silt from the river is a priority.
The Teesta altered its course and deposited large amounts of silt in the river basin following the severe flash floods in Sikkim in October 2023. Authorities are concerned that, similar to last year, several river spurs have been compromised this year as well.
The irrigation department is also working on repairing dams damaged by the swollen Teesta, including those in Milanpally, Bakali, and Changmari. Repairs on the Ghazaldoba dam began on Thursday.
On Thursday, the Teesta's waters breached the danger mark, submerging significant portions of a national highway that connects Sikkim to the plains in North Bengal.
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