Feni River
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| Feni River | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | |
| Location | |
| Countries | Bangladesh and India |
| District | Khagrachari |
| State | Tripura |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Khagrachari district, Bangladesh |
| • coordinates | 23°20′N 91°47′E / 23.333°N 91.783°E[1] |
| Mouth | Bay of Bengal |
| Length | 116 km (72 mi)[1] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Bay of Bengal |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • right | Muhuri River |
The Feni (Bengali: ফেনী নদী ; ISO: Phēnī Nadī ) is a river in southeastern Bangladesh and Tripura state of India. It is a trans-boundary river that is the subject of an ongoing dispute about water rights between the two countries. The Feni River originates in South Tripura district and flows through Sabroom town and then enters Bangladesh. Muhuri River, also called the Little Feni[by whom?], from Noakhali District joins it near its mouth. The river is navigable by small boats as far as Ramgarh, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) upstream.
The question of sharing the waters of the river between India and Pakistan was first discussed in 1958, and after its 1971 independence, Bangladesh continued that discussion with India. Through at least 2006 the countries continued to consider possible compromises.
Feni River originates in South Tripura district and flows through Sabroom town and then enters Bangladesh.[2] Muhuri River, also called Little Feni, from Noakhali District joins it near its mouth. The river is navigable throughout the year by small boats up to Ramgarh, some 80 kilometres (50 mi) upstream.[1]
Dispute
The question of sharing the waters of the river between India and Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) was discussed as early as 1958.[3]
Reports from Bangladesh in 2007 said, "India is trying to withdraw water from Feni River for irrigation projects in exchange for resolving erosion problem in [sic] Bangladesh side of this bordering river."[4]
According to the statement on sharing of river waters with Bangladesh, released by India in 2007, "Feni River has been added to its mandate in the 36th JRC [Joint Rivers Commission] meeting. A decision was taken in the meeting that the Ministers of Water Resources of both countries would visit the sites where developmental works have been held up. This Joint Inspection of various locations of developmental and flood protection works on common rivers was held from September 14–21, 2006."[5]
Inland port in Tripura
Sabroom in South Tripura, in India, is only 18 to 20 kilometres (11 to 12 mi) from the Bay of Bengal, but it is a virtually landlocked territory. In 2007, there was a thinking that an inland harbor could be built at Sabroom, connected to the sea through a canal if Bangladesh allowed it. The construction of such a harbor could reduce considerably the cost of transportation of goods from the rest of India to Tripura and the north-east of India. However, the idea had not been acted on through 2007.[2]