Release of water by India through Farakka barrage

Experts apprehend ‘big floods’

There may be big floods in some areas in the country due to release of water by India through the Farakka barrage.

India has already opened 100 gates out of 104 of the Farakka barrage to release 11lakh cusec water, to save Bihar from floods.
“Bangladesh government will have to be prepared. There may be big floods in Chapainababganj, Rajshahi, Kushtia, Shariatpur and Faridpur, due to release of water through the barrage,” Dr Khan said in reply to a query.
“Some cracks have developed in Rajshahi town protection dam,” he said, adding, “There was no water in the Padma over the past few years. If there’s pressure of water, huge cracks might develop in the dam and Rajshahi town, too, may face the fury of flood.”
He said the water was flowing 12-15 ft below the danger level in the Padma now.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s water experts and green activists have been demanding the dismantling of the Farakka barrage for a long time as it affects the country’s biodiversity and environment.
Many rivers have already died and several others are in moribund condition due to scarcity of water, which is being withdrawn in the upstream of the Farakka barrage.
Following the “unprecedented” flood in the Indian state of Bihar, its chief minister, Nitish Kumar, has requested the Indian government to remove the Farakka barrage that diverts waters of the Ganga before it enters Bangladesh.
Kumar is the first Indian leader who has urged Indian prime minister Narendra Modi to do away with the barrage that has caused a huge siltation on the river bed.
Meanwhile, leaders of International Farakka Committee (IFC) have congratulated Kumar for his suggestion.
“Finally, an Indian leader has understood the negative impact of the Farakka barrage. The barrage doesn’t bring any benefit to people of Bihar, except flood. We congratulate Kumar for his suggestion,” Dr SI Khan, senior vice-president of IFC, told The Independent yesterday.

On Sunday, Bihar chief minister Kumar said, “It is not possible to protect Bihar from devastating floods, without the removal of the Farakka barrage on the Ganga.”
Kumar, on Tuesday, met the Indian prime minister in New Delhi and requested him to send a team of experts to assess the “unprecedented” situation in his state. He demanded prompt action on a national silt management policy.
He also reportedly expressed his concerns that the Farakka barrage in West Bengal had led to silting in the Ganga and exacerbated the floods in Bihar.
Farakka barrage is located on the Bengal-Jharkhand border and meant to divert the Ganga water into the Hooghly river and help in desilting process.
This, in turn, has made the river bed shallow and floods have become an annual phenomenon in Bihar, which falls in the catchment area.
The construction of the barrage began in the early 1960s and it became operational in 1975. Bangladesh has disputes with India over sharing the waters of common rivers, including the Ganga and the two countries signed a 30-year water-sharing treaty in 1996.

Release of water by India through Farakka barrage

Experts apprehend big floods

There may be big floods in some areas in the country due to release of water by India through the Farakka barrage. India has already opened 100 gates out of 104 of the Farakka barrage to release 11lakh cusec water, to save Bihar from floods. Bangladesh government will have to be prepared. There may be big floods in Chapainababganj, Rajshahi, Kushtia, Shariatpur and Faridpur, due to release of water through the barrage, Dr Khan said in reply to a query. Some cracks have developed in Rajshahi town protection dam, he said, adding, There was no water in the Padma over the past few years. If theres pressure of water, huge cracks might develop in the dam and Rajshahi town, too, may face the fury of flood. He said the water was flowing 12-15 ft below the danger level in the Padma now. Meanwhile, Bangladeshs water experts and green activists have been demanding the dismantling of the Farakka barrage for a long time as it affects the countrys biodiversity and environment. Many rivers have already died and several others are in moribund condition due to scarcity of water, which is being withdrawn in the upstream of the Farakka barrage. Following the unprecedented flood in the Indian state of Bihar, its chief minister, Nitish Kumar, has requested the Indian government to remove the Farakka barrage that diverts waters of the Ganga before it enters Bangladesh. Kumar is the first Indian leader who has urged Indian prime minister Narendra Modi to do away with the barrage that has caused a huge siltation on the river bed. Meanwhile, leaders of International Farakka Committee (IFC) have congratulated Kumar for his suggestion. Finally, an Indian leader hasunderstood the negative impact of the Farakka barrage. The barrage doesnt bring any benefit to people of Bihar, except flood. We congratulate Kumar for his suggestion, Dr SI Khan, senior vice-president of IFC, told The Independent yesterday. On Sunday, Bihar chief minister Kumar said, It is not possible to protect Bihar from devastating floods, without the removal of the Farakka barrage on the Ganga. Kumar, on Tuesday, met the Indian prime minister in New Delhi and requested him to send a team of experts to assess the unprecedented situation in his state. He demanded prompt action on a national silt management policy. He also reportedly expressed his concerns that the Farakka barrage in West Bengal had led to silting in the Ganga and exacerbated the floods in Bihar. Farakka barrage is located on the Bengal-Jharkhand border and meant to divert the Ganga water into the Hooghly river and help in desilting process. This, in turn, has made the river bed shallow and floods have become an annual phenomenon in Bihar, which falls in the catchment area. The construction of the barrage began in the early 1960s and it became operational in 1975. Bangladesh has disputes with India over sharing the waters of common rivers, including the Ganga and the two countries signed a 30-year water-sharing treaty in 1996.