The MEA released a statement in reaction to media reports claiming that Bangladesh has experienced flooding as a result of the Dumbur hydroelectric project’s gates opening.
Concerns regarding the current flood crisis in Bangladesh’s bordering areas being caused by the opening of India’s Dumbur dam in Tripura are “factually inaccurate,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.
“There have been concerns raised in Bangladesh on the possibility that the opening of the Dumbur dam upstream of the Gumti River in Tripura is to blame for the current flooding scenario in districts on the country’s eastern borders. Factually, this is untrue,” the MEA stated.
The government clarified that some of the year’s heaviest rainfall had recently poured on the Gumti River’s catchment areas, which span both Bangladesh and India. The main cause of the floods in Bangladesh is the water from these large catchments that flow downstream of the dam.
“Floods on the common rivers between India and Bangladesh are a shared problem inflicting sufferings to people on both sides, and requires close mutual cooperation towards resolving them,” the MEA stated.
The ministry further said, “river water cooperation is a crucial aspect of our bilateral engagement, since both countries have 54 common cross-border rivers. Through technical conversations and bilateral consultations, we are still dedicated to finding solutions to problems and addressing shared concerns regarding the management of river water resources.”
The MEA released a statement in reaction to media reports claiming that Bangladesh has experienced flooding as a result of the Dumbur hydroelectric project’s gates opening.
The neighbouring districts of Cumilla, Brahmanbaria, and Feni are under water as a result of the Dumbur project in Tripura’s gates opening, according to a report from the Dhaka Times in Bangladesh.
According to reports, Bangladeshi officials told the publication that New Delhi failed to inform Dhaka about measures in Tripura that had a major effect on populations on the other side of the border.
The Dumbur dam, which is a part of the Gumti hydroelectric power project in the Gomati district, had no gates open, according to Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath, in response to allegations regarding the dam’s functioning. He explained that when this level is surpassed, the dam’s 94-meter-capable reservoir releases extra water automatically.
“The Gomti Hydro Electric Project does not yet have a gate open. The reservoir can hold up to 94 meters of water. The water will automatically flow out of the gate after it has crossed this level. Once more, the gate will automatically close when the reservoir’s water level drops below 94 meters”, Nath posted on X.
According to the weather service on Tuesday, a low-pressure area that persisted over central Bangladesh and the adjacent region was the cause of the heavy rains.
The officials stated that the majority of the state’s prominent rivers, were flowing above critical levels, and the Gumti, the largest river, had crossed the “extreme danger level.”
According to local media reports, eight districts in Bangladesh—Sunamganj, Maulvibazar, Habiganj, Feni, Chittagong, Noakhali, Comilla, and Khagrachari—have been impacted by the floods, which have resulted in several deaths.
