Multi-purpose Teesta Barrage Project worth Rs 3K crore to be trimmed down.

West Bengal's multipurpose water taming project on river Teesta is going to have a trimmed shape soon. Problem in land acquisition is one of the major problems to prompt the state Government to propose for this trimming. After 28 years of its planned completion date and with over 2200% cost overrun, the central project has gained its nick name as 'Never Ending Story'

'Teesta Barrage Project is a victim, of the impractical planning of the previous Government in state. We have done fresh evaluation. Based upon that, talks on proposal for a trimmed shape of the project are going on with central authorities,' said West Bengal Irrigation Minister Mr. Rajiib Banerjee recently at Siliguri.

As per initial planning, the project was supposed to have 3.42 lakh Ha agricultural land under its irrigation coverage through small canals served by main canal beginning from district of Darjeeling to Maldaha via North Dinajpore. But, 'As per the new projection, it will have its end at north Dinajpore. Malda does not need its water. Inclusion of the district was a wrong planning of previous Government,' said the Minister.

ET