Bengal Irrigation Minister Rajib Banerjee yesterday said he would seek the Centre's intervention to form the "India-Bhutan joint river commission" so that floods caused by rivers or streams originating from the Himalayan country could be mitigated in north Bengal.
The demand has come after three north Bengal districts were flooded by rivers originating from Bhutan in the past two weeks. North Bengal development minister Rabindranath Ghosh yesterday pegged the total loss from the floods around Rs 1,000 crore.
"There are 72 rivers and streams which originate from Bhutan and flow through north Bengal (in the districts of Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar). There had been incessant rainfall in north Bengal but the flood was caused by these rivers. There is no barrage in any of these rivers in Bhutan, as a result of which several areas in north Bengal are flooded," Banerjee told journalists at Uttarkanya here after touring the flood-ravaged areas.
"Last year, we had taken up the issue with Union water resources minister and emphasised the need to form the India-Bhutan Joint River Commission to mitigate the flood. Some infrastructure like barrage should be built in Bhutan through bilateral talks. However, the Centre has not taken any initiative. Again, we had to face the same situation. After my return to Calcutta, I will speak to the Union minister again. I would also request the chief minister to take up the matter with the prime minister," he added.
Asked if the joint river commission would help check the flood, a senior official of the state irrigation department said: "Formation of such a joint body comprising representatives of two countries can help in the exchange of information on flood and rainfall on a regular basis. Also, there can be regular discussions on the aversion of inundation in areas downstream the Bhutan rivers, that is north Bengal. We can place proposals like construction of barrages and water reservoirs in Bhutan and at some locations of north Bengal to regularise the flow of water. If the joint river commission is formed, it can largely help in resolving the problem."
[Via: Telegraph, Pic: Kundan Yolmo]
No comments:
Post a Comment