Kolkata: Apprehensive over the excess flow of
water to Bangladesh due to breakdown of two sluice gates of
Farakka barrage, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
has shot off a letter the Prime Minister.
Gate number 13 of the barrage had broken down on June
16 last year and gate number 16 on December 9, the chief
minister has said in her letter and that excess water was
flowing into Bangladesh.
Banerjee told reporters today that the Prime Minister
has replied to her letter.
Officials said that that the issue was discussed with
Union Water Resources minister Pawan Kumar Bansal who assured
of action.
Secretariat sources said that Bangladesh was supposed
to get 35,000 cusecs during the dry season (current months) as
per the India-Bangladesh water agreement, but it was getting
82,801 cusecs due to the drainage of water from the Farakka
barrage.
The sources said that the barrage's water level had
fallen to 65.8 feet from 72 feet. "This will cause serious
problem for the Bhagirathi level in the coming months."
They said that the feeder canal, which supplied water
to the Bhagirathi, should get 40,000 cusecs, as against the
present 20,000 cusecs caused by the drainage to the Padma in
Bangladesh.
"If this trend continues, it will be difficult for West
Bengal to manage the water flow," the sources said.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 22:34