“Factually Incorrect”: India On Reports Tripura Dam Caused Bangladesh Floods (image-X/smzakaria)
Addressing the concerns regarding floods in Bangladesh’s bordering districts, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that the situation has not been caused by opening the Dumbur dam upstream of Tripura’s Gumti river.
Calling the reports citing the same as “factually not correct,” the MEA explained that the catchment areas of the Gumti river, which flows through India and Bangladesh, recently experienced some of the heaviest rains this year. The Ministry attributed water from these catchments as the main reason behind the flood situation in the country.
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“We have seen concerns being expressed in Bangladesh that the current situation of flooding in districts on the eastern borders of Bangladesh has been caused by the opening of the Dumbur dam upstream of the Gumti River in Tripura. This is factually not correct. Floods on the common rivers between India and Bangladesh are a shared problem inflicting sufferings to people on both sides and require close mutual cooperation towards resolving them,” the MEA stated.
Emphasising the importance of river water cooperation in the bilateral engagement, the Ministry highlighted that both India and Bangladesh share 54 common cross-border rivers. “We remain committed to resolving issues and mutual concerns in water resources and river water management through bilateral consultations and technical discussions,” added the Ministry.
The MEA response comes after several media reports claimed that the Dumbur hydroelectric project’s gates were opened, triggering flooding in the country. Dhaka Times reported that the water from the dam flooded nearby districts of Brahmanbaria, Feni, and Cumilla.
Reportedly, Bangladesh officials also stated that New Delhi did not alert Dhaka about the dam opening in Tripura, which affected the communities near the border.
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Meanwhile, Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath claimed that the Dumbur dam’s gates were not opened. The dam’s reservoir, which holds a capacity of 94 meters, automatically releases excess water when the water level exceeds.
Heavy rainfall has been pouring since August 21 in Tripura and the nearby districts of Bangladesh. As per reports, nearly 34,000 people have been displaced due to the floods in Tripura.
