New Delhi: India on Thursday described as factually incorrect stories in Bangladesh that the present flood state of affairs in sure components of the nation has been attributable to the opening of a dam on the Gumti river in Tripura.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated floods within the widespread rivers between the 2 nations are a “shared” downside inflicting sufferings to folks on each side, and requires shut mutual cooperation in the direction of resolving it.

“We have seen concerns being expressed in Bangladesh that the current situation of flood in districts on the eastern borders of Bangladesh has been caused by opening of the Dumbur dam upstream of the Gumti river in Tripura. This is factually not correct,” the ministry stated.

“We would like to point out that the catchment areas of the Gumti river that flows through India and Bangladesh have witnessed heaviest rains of this year over the last few days,” it added.

The MEA stated the flood in Bangladesh has been triggered primarily as a result of waters from these massive catchments downstream of the dam.

The Dumbur dam is positioned fairly removed from the border — greater than 120 km upstream of Bangladesh — the ministry stated in an announcement.

“It is a low-height (about 30 metre) dam that generates power that feeds into a grid and from which Bangladesh also draws 40MW power from Tripura,” the MEA famous.

“Along the about 120-km river course, we have three water-level observation sites at Amarpur, Sonamura and Sonamura 2,” it stated.

Heavy rainfall has been persevering with since August 21 in the entire of Tripura and the adjoining districts of Bangladesh.

In the occasion of heavy influx, computerized releases have been noticed, the MEA stated, including that the Amarpur station is a part of a bilateral protocol underneath which India transmits real-time flood knowledge to Bangladesh.

“Data showing rising trend has been supplied to Bangladesh up to 1500 hours on August 21. At 1800 hours, due to flooding, there was power outage, leading to problems of communication,” it stated.

“Still, we have tried to maintain communication through other means created for urgent transmission of data,” it famous.

The MEA stated the 2 nations share 54 widespread cross-border rivers and river-water cooperation is a vital a part of the bilateral engagement.

“We remain committed to resolving issues and mutual concerns in water resources and river water management through bilateral consultations and technical discussions,” it stated.