Rajshahi, Sept 30 – The water level of the river Ganga and its distributaries in Bangladesh in the Rajshahi region is swelling as all the 119 gates of Farakka barrage in India have been opened to ensure speedy discharge of the Ganges water following flood in Patna and 12 other districts.According to the Times of India, the Centre opened all the gates following a request from Pataliputra MP Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Ravi Shankar Prasad contacted Union minister for water resources and urged him to ensure that 119 gates of the Farakka barrage were raised to prevent floods in Patna and 12 other districts, sources close to Prasad said, adding the Union minister would reach Patna on Monday night.
Officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) here said almost all the Farakka gates remain open during the monsoon.
However, the neighbouring country opens 80-90 gates sometimes depending on rainfall and the flood situation.
Rajshahi BWDB Executive Engineer in Chapainawabganj Syed Saidul Alam said the water level increased by 11cm till Monday evening. “Following the rise in the water level, we assumed that all the gates of Farakka barrage were opened,” he said, adding that water level of the Ganga River also saw a rise following persistent rain.
At present, the Ganges water was flowing at 17.98cm below the dander level at the Rajshahi point on late Monday afternoon, Saidul said, adding that it is likely to cross the danger level in the next two days which may lead to flooding.
Meanwhile, people of the chars along the Ganga have been directed to take shelter in safe places, according to a Facebook post made by State Minister for Foreign Affairs and MP from Rajshahi-6 constituency Shahriar Alam.
As per the post, the water level is likely to increase till October 5 and then it may start to recede.- UNB
