Delay in Land-Compensation for the Teesta: The Teesta Barrage Project, one of North Bengal’s most ambitious irrigation and flood-control infrastructure initiatives, has once again come under scrutiny. The Accounts and Audit Department has reportedly flagged serious delays and inconsistencies in the disbursement of land damage compensations in Jalpaiguri district, where hundreds of residents have been awaiting payments for land acquired or affected by the project.
According to an internal assessment, the delay—stretching in some cases for over a year—has resulted in mounting grievances among landowners and concerns within the state irrigation department about the possible mismanagement of funds and administrative inefficiencies. Officials have cited a combination of bureaucratic red tape, incomplete verification of records, and fund release issues as reasons behind the logjam.
The controversy surrounding the delay in land damage compensation is significant not only because it affects local farmers and residents but also because it highlights deeper structural challenges in large-scale government projects in the region.
1. The Project and Its Importance to North Bengal
The Teesta Barrage Project, located near Gajoldoba in Jalpaiguri district, was conceived to enhance irrigation capacity, mitigate floods, and support agricultural productivity across several districts of North Bengal, including Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, and North Dinajpur.
Planned to irrigate over 9.22 lakh hectares of cultivable land, the project has been operational in phases since the 1980s. The barrage plays a crucial role in managing the volatile Teesta River, known for its seasonal flooding and unpredictable water levels.
However, despite decades of operation and extensions, the project has faced repeated challenges — from funding delays and inter-state water disputes to land acquisition hurdles and environmental concerns.
Officials of the West Bengal Irrigation and Waterways Department have described the Teesta Barrage as the “lifeline of North Bengal,” vital for agricultural irrigation and rural economy stabilization.
2. The Core Issue: Delay in Land Damage Payments
The recent concern stems from pending land damage compensation claims under the Teesta Barrage Project, particularly in the Jalpaiguri section. The Accounts team, which reviews fund utilisation and payment records, noted a series of irregularities and delays in processing compensation to affected landowners.
2.1 The Findings
According to the findings (as reported by The Telegraph and corroborated by departmental insiders):
- Payments for land damages under several project sub-divisions have been delayed for months, with no clear administrative explanation.
- Some claims are reportedly stuck at the verification stage, awaiting documentation from district-level land and revenue offices.
- A few payment files were found pending despite fund allocations being made months earlier.
An official familiar with the audit said:
“The review indicated that funds sanctioned for compensation were not fully disbursed due to discrepancies in land ownership records and delayed file clearances at multiple administrative levels.”
2.2 Farmer Grievances
Dozens of landowners in areas near the Teesta canal have expressed frustration over the delay. Many allege that while measurement and survey work had been completed, compensation cheques have yet to reach them.
Local farmers argue that they lost both cultivable land and seasonal crops due to project-related embankment and canal widening works.
One affected farmer from Mainaguri block said:
“We were promised compensation six months ago. Officials measured our plots and marked them for damages, but no payment has come yet. Every time we visit the office, we are told the files are pending approval.”
Such testimonies have added to the growing public pressure on the district administration.
3. Bureaucratic Bottlenecks and Delayed File Movements
3.1 Multi-Layered Approvals
The land compensation process involves multiple departments — Land & Land Reforms, Irrigation, Accounts, and District Treasury. Officials suggest that inter-departmental coordination gaps have been one of the key reasons for the delays.
A senior accounts officer commented:
“Every file has to move through at least five desks. Even a small error in land classification or beneficiary verification can send it back to the starting point. This bureaucratic loop has slowed down disbursal.”
3.2 Lack of Updated Land Records
The absence of updated digital land records in parts of rural Jalpaiguri has further compounded the issue. Many of the affected plots are recorded under outdated cadastral maps, making it difficult to match ownership details with current claimants.
This mismatch has forced officials to conduct re-verification drives, delaying compensation even after approval in principle.
3.3 Audit Sensitivity and Risk Management
Given the large amounts involved, the Accounts Department is cautious about authorising any payments without complete documentation. This cautious approach—though legally sound—has resulted in further delay, as officials fear post-audit objections.
4. The Human Impact: Economic and Emotional Toll
For residents whose lands were affected by canal excavation or embankment strengthening, the delay is more than a bureaucratic inconvenience—it is a financial crisis.
4.1 Impact on Small Farmers
Small and marginal farmers, who rely on seasonal crops, have been disproportionately affected. Many have reported income losses due to construction work during crucial sowing and harvesting periods.
“We cannot cultivate because the canal work damaged our irrigation channels. Without compensation, how do we buy seeds or fertilizers for the next season?” — said a farmer from Dhupguri block.
4.2 Displacement and Social Disruption
In some areas, temporary displacement occurred when embankments were widened, forcing families to relocate to nearby villages. Some have yet to receive rehabilitation support promised under earlier project phases.
The human cost of administrative delay is becoming a point of concern among local NGOs and community organisations. Several have urged the government to expedite payments and publish a district-wise compensation list for transparency.
5. The Official Response: Assurance and Action Plans
Following the audit report, senior officials in the Irrigation and Waterways Department have assured that corrective action will be taken.
5.1 Review Meetings and Deadlines
The Jalpaiguri District Magistrate’s office and the Accounts Department have held joint meetings to review the pending files. A revised deadline for payment processing has been set for early next quarter, officials confirmed.
5.2 Verification Drives
District-level teams have begun re-verification of claimants and land records to remove discrepancies. Officials have also directed that digital records be prioritised to prevent future delays.
5.3 Transparency Measures
A proposal has been floated to publish the status of compensation cases online, allowing affected individuals to track progress. This aligns with the West Bengal Right to Public Services Act, which mandates transparency in government service delivery.
6. Political Reactions: Local Leaders Step In
6.1 Trinamool Congress and BJP Statements
Political parties have been quick to seize upon the issue. Local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders have accused the bureaucracy of “neglecting rural farmers,” while BJP representatives in North Bengal have alleged “systematic corruption” and called for a third-party audit.
A TMC district spokesperson said:
“The government is committed to compensating every affected farmer. The delay is procedural and not deliberate.”
In contrast, BJP MLA from Jalpaiguri Sadar said:
“People are suffering because officials are sitting on files. The Teesta Barrage project was meant to empower farmers, not punish them.”
6.2 Administrative Neutrality
District officials have avoided political comment, insisting that the process is being conducted “strictly within administrative rules and audit compliance.”
7. The Broader Picture: Infrastructure Projects and Compensation Delays in Bengal
The Teesta case reflects a larger pattern observed in infrastructure projects across West Bengal and India. According to data from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), over 35% of land acquisition-related compensation cases in the state experience delays beyond the stipulated timeline.
7.1 Common Causes
- Incomplete land verification.
- Overlapping land ownership disputes.
- Delay in fund release from state exchequer.
- Lack of inter-departmental coordination.
7.2 Lessons for Future Projects
Experts say that the government must invest in digitisation of land records and establish single-window clearance systems for compensation to prevent repeated delays.
8. Voices from the Ground: Frustration and Hope
During field visits, multiple residents of Jalpaiguri’s affected zones expressed both frustration and cautious optimism.
“We have been hearing about compensation for months. But unless the government sets a fixed date, people will lose faith,” said a resident of Belakoba.
Another villager noted,
“The Teesta project gave us water for crops. But now, we only want justice for the land we lost.”
Community leaders have requested the district administration to form local grievance cells and publish a compensation calendar accessible to the public.
9. The Way Forward: What Experts Recommend
Policy experts and economists suggest a few critical steps:
- Fast-track digital mapping of affected areas.
- Unified compensation portal under the Irrigation Department.
- Real-time grievance redressal mechanism for landowners.
- Quarterly audit reviews to maintain accountability.
- Public disclosure of fund utilisation.
Dr. Soumitra Ray, a public policy expert from North Bengal University, said:
“This issue is symptomatic of weak institutional coordination. If unaddressed, such administrative inertia can erode public trust in state-led infrastructure development.”
10. Conclusion: A Call for Accountability and Efficiency
The delay in land damage payments for the Teesta Barrage Project underscores a recurring dilemma in India’s development paradigm — the gap between policy intent and on-ground implementation.
As audit officials continue to review pending claims and the district administration works toward faster clearances, the spotlight remains on the state government’s ability to ensure transparency, fairness and speed in compensating affected citizens.
The Teesta Barrage, long hailed as the lifeline of North Bengal, must not become a symbol of bureaucratic stagnation. The government’s credibility now hinges on ensuring that every eligible landowner receives due compensation — promptly and transparently.
Delay in Land-Compensation for the Teesta: External Reference Links
- West Bengal Irrigation & Waterways Department: https://wbiwd.gov.in
- District Administration Jalpaiguri: https://jalpaiguri.gov.in
- Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG): https://cag.gov.in
- Department of Land & Land Reforms, West Bengal: https://banglarbhumi.gov.in
- National Portal of India (Infrastructure Projects): https://www.india.gov.in
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