Carrying Capacity Study of Teesta Basin in Sikkim - Affected ...

3.1 GENERAL
HYDRO-METEOROLOGY
The river Teesta, fed by the snow and glaciers of
Khangchendzonga and the Great Himalayas, originates in north Sikkim
at an elevation of 8,500 m above mean seal level. It is a perennial river,
and flows through the territories of Sikkim, West Bengal in India and
Bangladesh. Most of its tributaries are flashy mountain rivers and carry
boulders and considerable quantity of sediment. The flow is turbulent,
characterised by high velocities. Throughout its course in Sikkim, the
Teesta and its tributaries flow in very narrow and deep valleys having
precipitous hill slopes, except where the tributaries join the main stream.
The hill slopes are mostly friable and land slips are very common.
Access to the river in these reaches is very difficult.
The entire precipitation on the territory of Sikkim travels towards
the central north-south axis which is the course taken by the river
Teesta. All the water courses in the country, such as Lhonak Chhu,
Lachen Chhu, Lachung Chhu, Rongni Chhu and Rangpo Chhu flow into
Teesta. The river Rangit also joins Teesta at a point south of Me1li
bazaar. It can thus be said that every drop of water falling on Sikkimese
territory as rain or snow leaves the territory only at one point, south of
Melli Bazar at the confluence of Rangit and Teesta rivers. River Teesta
is confined in a very narrow gorge from Chungthang up to Melli Bazar in