India has opened all 109 gates of the Farakka Barrage, leading to rising water levels in the Padma River, as reported by Indian and Bangladeshi media. The decision was made due to heavy rainfall in the Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand, causing floods and an increase in water levels in the Ganga River. Authorities have released 11 lakh cusecs of water to manage the situation, which has raised concerns in both India’s Murshidabad district and parts of Bangladesh.
The Farakka Barrage, located in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, is about 18 km from the Bangladesh border and was fully operational by 1975. Built to manage water flow, the barrage is 2,240 meters long, with an upstream capacity of 26.24 meters. Due to recent heavy rains, the barrage faced a critical situation, with a potential risk of damage if water was not released, according to News Eight.
Bangladesh has expressed concerns that the release of water from the Farakka Barrage could lead to flooding in its low-lying areas. However, Moklesur Rahman, Additional Chief Engineer of the Rajshahi Water Development Board, downplayed the threat, noting that opening the barrage gates during the monsoon is a regular occurrence. He reassured that the water flow is normal and not related to a significant flood from the hills.
Enamul Haque, a gauge reader from the Rajshahi Water Development Board, reported that the water level in the Padma River at the Rajshahi Point had slightly risen from 16.28 meters at 6 am on Monday to 16.30 meters by the evening. He mentioned that while the rise is noticeable, the full impact of the released water from Farakka will take time to reach Bangladesh, with potential effects starting the next day.
Officials from Bangladesh’s Water Development Board, including Sardar Uday Raihan, have stated that the opening of the Farakka Barrage is unlikely to cause a major flood impact in Bangladesh. According to their assessments, the water levels in the Ganga basin are stable, and no significant rise is expected in the coming days.
Nazmul Ahsan, Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, mentioned that such openings of barrage gates are typical during the monsoon season, and no prior warning is usually given. He emphasized that water levels in Rajshahi remain stable, and similar conditions are expected to continue.
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