India constructs closer dam and sparks to dry up region, change river course
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
FENI, Oct 11 (UNB): Indian team threatened to withdraw from a bilateral meeting today when Bangladesh side raised construction of closer dam near Assam Road at the upstream of Muhuri and sparks on its bank causing harm to Bangladesh.
The meeting starting from 12 noon Sunday continued till 8pm at Belonia land port. Tapan Loudha, Chief Engineer of Water Resources of Tripura led the 13-member Indian team while Mahbubur Rahman, Regional Chief Engineer (southeast) of Bangladesh Water Development Board led the 12-member home team at the meeting.
Briefing the outcome of the meeting Tapan Loudha said they discussed measures to protect from erosion the banks of Monu, Dhalai, Muhuri and Kahua flowing down from the Indian territory.
Sources close to the meeting told UNB that Bangladesh team member Lt Col Gazi Mohammad Salahuddin of BDR pointed to the construction of closer dam at the confluence of Gumti and Muhuri rivers on the Indian side. The dam is under construction at Kalshimukh along the Assam Road.
He also raised the issue of construction of sparks along the bank of Muhuri at Nijkolikapur that will change the course of the river.
Construction of the dam and sparks will render useless the Muhuri irrigation project in Feni and dry up Muhuri, Kahua and Silonia rivers on the Bangladesh side adversely affecting the agriculture in the region.
Col Gazi further said that sparks on the Indian bank of Muhuri would change the course of the river and intensify erosion of the bank on Bangladesh side.
The Indian side said these were issues outside of the agenda of the meeting. Team leader Tapan Loudha threatened to withdraw from the meeting if the Bangladesh side insisted on discussion on the vexing issues.
The meeting was set to discuss on development of riverbanks at 28 points on Indian side and 21 points on Bangladesh side. Both sides agreed to wok at 16 points in Bangladesh and 23 points in Indian side of the rivers. It was also agreed that development work to check erosion by the rivers would be completed by 2013.
Work on remaining five points on each side of Bangladesh and India would be taken up in the next meeting.
Commenting on the meeting Parshuram Upazila chairman Kamal Ahmed Majumder said the matters related to the utmost interest of the area. He questioned the integrity of Water Development Board in keeping secret the meeting.
The meeting starting from 12 noon Sunday continued till 8pm at Belonia land port. Tapan Loudha, Chief Engineer of Water Resources of Tripura led the 13-member Indian team while Mahbubur Rahman, Regional Chief Engineer (southeast) of Bangladesh Water Development Board led the 12-member home team at the meeting.
Briefing the outcome of the meeting Tapan Loudha said they discussed measures to protect from erosion the banks of Monu, Dhalai, Muhuri and Kahua flowing down from the Indian territory.
Sources close to the meeting told UNB that Bangladesh team member Lt Col Gazi Mohammad Salahuddin of BDR pointed to the construction of closer dam at the confluence of Gumti and Muhuri rivers on the Indian side. The dam is under construction at Kalshimukh along the Assam Road.
He also raised the issue of construction of sparks along the bank of Muhuri at Nijkolikapur that will change the course of the river.
Construction of the dam and sparks will render useless the Muhuri irrigation project in Feni and dry up Muhuri, Kahua and Silonia rivers on the Bangladesh side adversely affecting the agriculture in the region.
Col Gazi further said that sparks on the Indian bank of Muhuri would change the course of the river and intensify erosion of the bank on Bangladesh side.
The Indian side said these were issues outside of the agenda of the meeting. Team leader Tapan Loudha threatened to withdraw from the meeting if the Bangladesh side insisted on discussion on the vexing issues.
The meeting was set to discuss on development of riverbanks at 28 points on Indian side and 21 points on Bangladesh side. Both sides agreed to wok at 16 points in Bangladesh and 23 points in Indian side of the rivers. It was also agreed that development work to check erosion by the rivers would be completed by 2013.
Work on remaining five points on each side of Bangladesh and India would be taken up in the next meeting.
Commenting on the meeting Parshuram Upazila chairman Kamal Ahmed Majumder said the matters related to the utmost interest of the area. He questioned the integrity of Water Development Board in keeping secret the meeting.