Bangladesh-India conducting survey for Ganges Barrage

Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud today said Bangladesh-India joint technical committee is conducting survey for the construction of the Ganges Barrage.

"After the completion of survey, a decision will be taken in this regard," he told newsman after inaugurating the construction of an embankment to save ancestral residence of Rabindranath Tagore at Shelaidah in Kumarkhali upazila here.

The Ganges Barrage Project is a proposed project in Bangladesh to hold back rain water of the monsoon season because of the periodic drying up of the Ganges River basin in Bangladesh due to the Farakka Barrage. It would be located within Pangsha Upazila in Rajbari District.

Replying to a question, whether Bangladesh is getting river water from India, the minister said the country is getting almost expected level of water.

"After the building of Farakka Barrage, the flow of water on Padma has reduced quietly. Though we earlier got 55-54 thousand cusec water, now we get 20-25 thousand cusec water," he said.

The minister observed that siltation in the rivers is the main reason behind the reducing of water flow.

Water Resources Ministry Senior Secretary Dr. Zafar Ahmed Khan and former Awami League lawmaker and Premier Bank Limited chairman Dr HBM Iqbal joined the function as special guests with Kushtia-4 seat lawmaker Abdur Rouf in the chair.

Source: BSS