MEA Declares: India’s Gumti River Dam NOT to Blame for Devastating Bangladesh Floods – Unveiling the Truth
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that the Dumbur dam on the Gumti River in Tripura is not responsible for the current flood situation observed in districts along Bangladesh’s eastern borders. According to an MEA release, the heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of the Gumti River, which flows through both India and Bangladesh, has been the primary cause of the floods.
The Ministry emphasized that the floods are a result of significant runoff from these catchment areas downstream of the dam. The Dumbur dam is situated over 120 kilometers upstream from the Bangladesh border and stands about 30 meters high. Importantly, the dam generates power for the grid, supplying 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh from Tripura.
“Along the approximately 120 km river course, we have three water level observation sites at Amarpur, Sonamura, and Sonamura 2. Heavy rainfall has persisted since August 21 in Tripura and adjacent districts in Bangladesh. In high inflow situations, automatic water releases have been observed,” stated the MEA.
The Amarpur station, part of a bilateral protocol, transmits real-time flood data to Bangladesh. The MEA noted that rising water levels were communicated to Bangladesh until 3:00 PM on August 21. However, subsequent flooding caused a power outage by 6:00 PM, disrupting communication. Despite this, efforts were made to maintain contact through alternative methods for urgent data transmission.
The MEA stressed the necessity of cooperation between India and Bangladesh to address flooding issues, as both countries share 54 cross-border rivers. The Ministry underscored the importance of bilateral consultations and technical discussions to manage water resources effectively, remaining committed to resolving mutual concerns.
Overall, the flooding in Bangladesh’s eastern regions results from extensive rainfall in the catchment areas, not the operation of the Dumbur dam, reaffirmed the MEA.
Original Story https://www.livemint.com/news/world/flood-situation-bangladesh-indian-dam-on-gumti-river-ministry-of-external-affairs-dumbur-dam-monsoon-gumti-river-11724309901310.html
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