Opening Farakka gates during monsoon routine and unavoidable: India

The Farakka barrage gates remain open during monsoon for smooth flow of Ganga river, the Indian External Affairs Ministry has said, describing it as “a routine and unavoidable activity”.

In response to a question, the official spokesperson on Friday clarified that media reports regarding release of water from Farakka Barrage (India) contributing to floods in Bangladesh are 'erroneous and misleading'.

Citing the Ministry of Water Resources of India, the spokesperson said it has clarified that the gates of Farakka Barrage are operated for the smooth flow of Ganges River through Farakka Barrage.

Padma, the main course of the Ganges, enters Bangladesh from India near Chapainawabganj and meets the Jamuna River at Rajbarhi's Goalonda.

There have been some media reports that the river Padma in Bangladesh is rising dangerously after India opened all gates to the Farakka Barrage to stop one of its states from being flooded. 

The spokesperson, however, quoted a Bangladesh media report of Aug 31 in which water resources minister was quoted as saying that "India did not open the gates of Farakka Barrage suddenly, and there is no possibility of fresh floods in the country.

“All the gates of Farakka Barrage remain open during the monsoon to release water through the Farakka Barrage- it is nothing new,” the minister had said.

The spokesperson said according to existing arrangements between India and Bangladesh, flood alerts during monsoon are communicated for Farakka and Sahibganj sites by field offices of Central Water Commission (India) to their Bangladesh counterparts.

“Being a routine procedure no special intimation or alert regarding opening of gates is issued.”

“The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (Bangladesh) has been quoted in the media stating that the latest water rise was natural and not unusual or abnormal in the month of August,” he said.