Indo-Bhutan River Commission: Powerful Step to Protect

Indo-Bhutan River Commission

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has reiterated her demand for the creation of an Indo-Bhutan River Commission, emphasizing the urgent need to address recurring floods in north Bengal caused by rivers flowing from Bhutan, Nepal, and Sikkim.

Key Points: Indo-Bhutan River Commission

Flood Impact on West Bengal:

• The waters of Bhutan’s Sankosh river frequently flood districts like Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Malda, causing extensive damage.

Current Cooperation Mechanism:
India and Bhutan currently coordinate through existing mechanisms such as:

• Joint Group of Experts
• Joint Technical Team on Flood Management
• Joint Experts Team on Flood Forecasting
  These teams meet regularly to discuss issues related to transborder rivers and flood control.

Central Government’s Stand:

• The Ministry of Jal Shakti informed Parliament that there is no proposal to set up a separate Indo-Bhutan River Commission as of now.

Mamata Banerjee’s Concerns:

• She highlighted the impending danger of floods from rivers originating in Bhutan, Nepal, and Sikkim’s Teesta River.
  She also accused the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) of causing “man-made floods” in south Bengal due to sudden water releases from its reservoirs.

Criticism of Union Budget:

• The Chief Minister criticized the Centre for allocating no funds for flood control in West Bengal, while Assam received financial support, stating that disasters impact multiple states and Bengal bears the maximum brunt.

About  Indo-Bhutan River Commission:

Introduction:
The Indo-Bhutan River Commission is a proposed body aimed at creating a structured framework for cooperation between India and Bhutan to manage transboundary rivers, especially to prevent recurring floods in north Bengal. The demand for this commission has been strongly advocated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee due to the recurring devastation caused by rivers flowing from Bhutan into West Bengal.

Need for the Commission:

Recurring Floods in North Bengal:

• Rivers such as the Sankosh, Raidak, and Torsa originating in Bhutan often cause heavy flooding in districts like Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Malda during monsoon season.

Transboundary River Challenges:

• Currently, water release and flood management decisions are not coordinated at a high institutional level, leading to sudden floods and extensive damage to life and property.

DVC and South Bengal Issues:

• In south Bengal, water release from Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) reservoirs has also been blamed for “man-made floods,” further highlighting the need for a central mechanism for river management.

Objectives of the Proposed Commission:

• Establish joint flood forecasting and warning systems between India and Bhutan.
• Formulate coordinated water release schedules to minimize flood damage.
• Promote sustainable water management and equitable sharing of river resources.
• Develop disaster preparedness plans and early warning systems for affected districts.
• Provide a single institutional platform for dialogue on all cross-border river issues.

About Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC):

• The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) is India’s first multipurpose river valley project, established to manage the Damodar River basin, which covers parts of Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• It was modeled on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) of the USA and came into existence under the Damodar Valley Corporation Act, 1948.
  The primary goal was to address flood control, irrigation, power generation, and regional development in the Damodar Valley region, which was historically prone to devastating floods.

Background:

• The Damodar River was once known as the “Sorrow of Bengal” because of the recurrent and destructive floods it caused.
• After severe floods between 1943–1946, the Government of India decided to establish a comprehensive river management system.

The DVC was set up jointly by the Central Government, Government of West Bengal, and Government of Bihar (now Jharkhand).