Teesta Barrage Project ? A Brief Review of Unattained Goals and Associated Changes

The Teesta Barrage Project that has been conceived in the year 1975-76 had a grand plan for the revival of agricultural economy of six districts of North Bengal- Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and Malda which did not have any strong industrial base. The project is still incomplete and there is a very little chance for the completion of the entire project as executed. The dam constructed aimed to control flood, bring lands under irrigation, generate hydro electricity, navigation, fishing and tourism which after the completion of the first phase is still unachieved and far from fulfilment. This paper is attempted to study the objectives behind the construction of the project along with its achievements and unachieved goals. Changing natural habitat with emphasis on the impact of the project over human life in the catchment area have been tried to determine through selected study of respondents and using Remote Sensing techniques. The changes of LULC attributes within the catchment area in due course of time have few striking characteristics along with increasing sufferings for the locals due to some changes in geo- economic environment.