NEW DELHI: Indian officials have clarified that recent flooding in districts along Bangladesh’s eastern border is not due to the opening of the Dumbur dam on the Gumti River in Tripura. They have stated that these claims are factually incorrect.
Ministry of External Affairs have pointed out that the catchment areas of the Gumti River, which flows through both India and Bangladesh, have experienced the heaviest rainfall of the year in recent days. This significant rainfall has been identified as the primary cause of the flooding in Bangladesh, rather than the operations of the Dumbur dam.
The Dumbur Dam, located more than 120 kilometres upstream from the Bangladesh border, is a low-height structure, standing at approximately 30 meters. The dam primarily functions to generate power, contributing to a grid from which Bangladesh also draws 40MW of power from Tripura.
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Indian authorities have further emphasized that the river’s course between the dam and the Bangladesh border includes three water level observation sites: Amarpur, Sonamura, and Sonamura 2. The region has been experiencing heavy rainfall since August 21, which has led to automatic water releases from the dam due to the high inflow.
The Amarpur station, part of a bilateral protocol, transmits real-time flood data to Bangladesh. Data indicating a rising trend in water levels was provided to Bangladesh up until 3:00 PM on August 21, 2024. However, a power outage caused by the flooding later that day at 6:00 PM resulted in communication challenges. Despite these difficulties, Indian authorities have continued to transmit data through alternative means to ensure timely communication.
Officials stressed that flooding on rivers shared between India and Bangladesh is a mutual issue, causing suffering on both sides of the border. They called for close cooperation between the two nations to address these challenges effectively.
As countries sharing 54 cross-border rivers, India and Bangladesh recognize river water cooperation as a critical aspect of their bilateral relations. Indian officials reiterated their commitment to resolving issues and addressing mutual concerns related to water resources and river water management through bilateral consultations and technical discussions.