India on Monday categorically denied the reports emerging in Bangladesh that floods in some parts of the neighbouring country is being caused due to the opening of Farakka barrage situated in West Bengal. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in a press conference said, “We have seen fake videos, rumours and fear-mongering to create misunderstanding. This should be firmly countered with facts.” Jaiswal further informed that relevant documents pertaining to the barrage were shared with joint river commission officials concerned in Bangladesh and it’s been done on a regular basis in the past as well. Jaiswal added, “We have seen media reports of the opening of Farakka barrage gates that will allow the flow of over 11 lakh cusecs of water downstream of the river in its natural course into the Ganga/Padma river.” The spokesperson of the external affairs ministry was responding to the queries by media on the concerned topic related to the flood in areas in Bangladesh. Detailing about the barrage and its functioning, Jaiswal said, “It is to be understood that Farakka is only a barrage and not a dam. Whenever the water level reaches the pond level, whatever inflow comes that passes, it is merely a structure to divert 40,000 cusecs of water into the Farakka canal that is carefully done using a system of gates on the main Ganga/Padma river, while the balance water flows into the main river to Bangladesh.” In a similar incident last week, India had denied reports and stated them as factually incorrect that floods in some areas in Bangladesh were caused by the opening of a dam on the Gumti river in Tripura. The MEA had clarified that floods in the common rivers is a shared problem for both the countries and it needs to be resolved with mutual cooperation. (with inputs from PTI)
