Indian barrages and dams in common river, a peril for Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a riverine country, once home to over 1,000 rivers. Today, approximately 700 rivers remain, along with numerous tributaries. Of these, about 230 rivers flow year-round, while the rest dry up in the winter and summer, losing their navigability. Some rivers are seasonal, coming back to life during the rainy season.

Many of the major rivers originate in India, and Bangladesh shares 54 rivers with its neighbor. However, India's extensive use of dams, barrages, and other structures has significantly impacted the flow of these rivers. Key examples include the Farakka Barrage on the Ganges River, the dam on the Brahmaputra River, the Bellunia Barrage on the Muhuri River, the Piyai Barrage on the Piyai River, and the City Defense Dam on the Khoai River. Additionally, numerous other rivers are obsructed by groynes or sluice gates, further disrupting the natural flow of water.

Bangladesh has repeatedly protested against India's activities against international river law, but they have not heeded it. As a result, due to the impact of all those dangerous barrages, and dams including Farakka, the whole of Bangladesh is gradually heading towards a serious disaster. Although Bangladesh itself does not abide by international river laws. Therefore, the country is moving towards a serious crisis due to the increase in soil water content and salinity along with the water related industries, shipping, maritime communication system, fisheries, forest resources, public health, environmental disaster, biodiversity destruction. The navigability of almost all rivers has been greatly reduced due to lack of necessary water flow. As a result, the residents of the riverside areas are suffering from premature floods and severe river erosion every year. They are taking shelter along roads, highways and railway lines and the number of landless people is increasing day by day.

Recently there have been severe floods in 12 districts including Feni, Comilla, Bangladesh. Many blame the opening of Dambur Dam in Tripura on Gomti River as the cause of this flood. Moreover, India has opened 109 gates of Farakka Barrage. Flooding is also happening in the northern part of Bangladesh. The Farakka Barrage has been under discussion for many years. But there is still no proper solution. Most people of Bangladesh do not know about many dams built by India. Therefore, some of the big barrages, and dams of India have been highlighted in the special arrangement of 'Views Bangladesh'.

Farakka Barrage
Farakka barrage is called the death trap for Bangladesh. The construction of this barrage started in 1961 and ended in 1975. This barrage is located on the river Ganga. This barrage is located in the Maldah and Murshidabad districts of the Indian state of West Bengal. Farakka Barrage is 2,240 meters (7,350 ft) long. The barrage was built with the help of the Soviet Union at a cost of about $1 billion. The harmful effects of Farakka Barrage have not only hit Bangladesh but also West Bengal and its surroundings. Even the people of Bihar marched with shawls demanding the demolition of the Farakka Barrage. Maulana Bhasani did the 'Farakka Long March' in 1976 to demolish the Farakka Barrage. Bhasani was over 90 years old when he led the Farakka Long March.

Farakka Barrage । Image Collected

Due to the Farakka barrage, the direct loss of Bangladesh is about Tk 5000 crores per year. Dewatering of the Ganges during the dry season disrupts life in southwestern Bangladesh. In this, Bangladesh has to face huge losses in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, industry, shipping, water supply etc. About 2 crore people are affected by lack of irrigation water. Apart from this, silt flow is reduced by 20 percent due to reduced water flow. Soil fertility is decreasing due to reduced sediment flow. Other chemical strengths of the soil are also decreasing. As a result of the Farakka Barrage, soil salinity has increased in the Khulna region of Bangladesh. Common people see only floods and droughts with naked eyes, but the evils of Farakka barrage are much more serious than what is visible.

Tipaimukh Dam
The Tipaimukh Dam is located on the Barak River in India, approximately 100 km upstream from the Bangladesh-India border. Completed in 2009, this dam is situated near the village of Tipaimukh, where the Barak and Tuivai rivers converge. The dam stands 162.8 meters high (534 feet) and extends 1,600 feet from this confluence point.

Originally built to generate hydroelectric power, the Tipaimukh Dam has significant implications for the environment and economy of Bangladesh. Experts warn that the dam’s impact on downstream areas, particularly on the common rivers, poses a serious threat to the Meghna River, another major river in Bangladesh.

Tipaimukh Dam। Image Collected

The dam has also caused considerable disruption within India. It has resulted in the inundation of approximately 300 square kilometers, with about 95 percent of this area located in Manipur and 5 percent in Mizoram. While India has faced some adverse effects, the consequences for Bangladesh are more severe. The construction of the Tipaimukh Dam has led to a reduction in the water flow of the Surma and Kushiara rivers, affecting navigability and having detrimental impacts on agriculture, fisheries, and biodiversity in the region.

Ghazaldoba Barrage
The Teesta River is a crucial waterway in northern Bangladesh, originating in the Himalayas in Sikkim, and flowing through Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri before entering Bangladesh. The Ghazaldoba Barrage, constructed by India, plays a significant role in regulating the flow of the Teesta River.

Established in 1998, the Ghazaldoba Barrage is located on the Indian side of the Teesta River, about 60 km upstream from the Bangladesh border. The barrage features 54 gates designed to control water flow.

Due to the operation of this barrage, the Teesta River has experienced severe changes similar to those of the Padma River. During the dry season, large stretches of the Teesta become sand-covered, while the rainy season brings about flooding. The barrage has effectively transferred control of the Teesta River's water flow to India. When needed, India can close the gates to divert the river's water for its own use. As a result, during the summer months, northern Bangladesh faces significant water shortages. The flow of the Teesta has decreased to less than 10 percent of its original volume, leading to the formation of char lands (riverine islands) across extensive areas in Bangladesh.

Ghazaldoba Barrage। Image Collected

The Ghazaldoba barrage was primarily established to recirculate Teesta water into the Teesta-Mahananda canal. This canal, stretching 2,918 km, supplies irrigation water to the districts of Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Cooch Behar, and Maldah. However, the unilateral withdrawal of water through the Ghazaldoba barrage is a clear violation of international law. The Teesta River is rapidly deteriorating, with its water resources significantly depleted. Due to the reckless extraction of water upstream, the Teesta's water level has dropped so drastically during the dry season that it is no longer sufficient for irrigation. Control over the Teesta's water is now entirely in India's hands, and by diverting its flow, India is violating international law. This has led to annual floods and droughts along the Teesta's banks. The release of water during the monsoon season causes severe erosion in parts of Bangladesh. The impact of the Ghazaldoba barrage has also narrowed three major rivers in the northern region—Atrai, Karatoa, and Punarbhava—turning them into mere canals. Additionally, two of Teesta's tributaries, Bengali and Ghat, have begun to dry up. Consequently, 30 small and large rivers in Nilphamari are facing extinction.

Mahananda Dam
The Mahananda River is an international river flowing between India and Bangladesh. Originating from the Himalayas in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India, the river traverses northern West Bengal, enters Bangladesh, then re-enters Malda district in West Bengal, before finally joining the Padma River at Godagari in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The river's primary source of flow is rainwater. The section of the Mahananda River that flows through Bangladesh spans 36 kilometers. At the north-western corner of Banglabandha Zero Point, on the Tentulia border of Bangladesh, India has constructed a large dam on the Mahananda River.

Mahananda Dam । Image Collected

In 1979-80, this dam, known as the 'Phulbari Barrage,' was built under the 'Teesta-Mahananda Project.' Through this barrage, India generates 22.5 megawatts of electricity from three units while also controlling floods over an area of 675 square kilometers. Additionally, during the dry season, water from the feeder canal is used for irrigation in various parts of West Bengal and Bihar. However, in Bangladesh, the lowering of groundwater levels over large areas has disrupted irrigation efforts. The dam's water impoundment during the dry season has turned the rivers of the district into dead rivers. Many rivers, both large and small, once relied on the Mahananda for their survival. Today, however, these rivers are dying due to the impact of the Mahananda Dam. The Mahananda River itself has become a lifeless canal due to India's hostile actions, leading to the loss of livelihoods for thousands of people who depended on it. Moreover, the release of water from the dam during the monsoon season causes annual flooding on both sides of the Mahananda.

Dumbur Dam
The Dumbur Dam has come under significant scrutiny recently due to the devastating floods in the Comilla region. Situated on the Gomti River in Tripura district, the Dumbur Dam is often referred to as the "Sorrow of Comilla." Dumbur Lake, located about 120 km from Agartala, the capital of Tripura, serves as the source of the Gomti River, which naturally flows towards Bangladesh, like most rivers or tributaries in Tripura. India has constructed a hydroelectric power plant near Dambur Lake. The opening of the Dumbur sluice gate at the Gomti hydroelectric plant has led to severe flooding in large areas of Bangladesh.

Dumbur Dam। Image Collected

However, Tripura's State Power Minister, Ratan Lal Nath, offered a different perspective, noting that the Gomti River was once a dry river during the dry season, with the water level so low that it could be crossed on foot in many places. The river swells during the monsoon, and this time it has taken on a particularly terrifying form. Last Thursday, August 22, a large area was flooded after a dam broke in Sholanal Union of Burichong Upazila, leading to floods in hundreds of villages.

Ultimately, if Bangladesh cannot assert its right to water with India and address the impact of these dams, the country will continue to face deprivation and suffering for generations. The damage caused by these dams is immense, putting Bangladesh in a perilous situation. To safeguard the historical rights to its rivers, Bangladesh must also ensure compliance with international river laws.