Rising Teesta waters pose flooding threat

Staff Reporter  :
As the upstream waters surge forward, the Teesta River is swelling, creating a menace for the flood-prone districts in the northern region.

To mitigate the immense pressure caused by the surging upstream waters, all 44 sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage have been opened.

Residents of the riverine areas of Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat have expressed apprehension about the looming threat of flooding.

On Thursday at 9am, the country’s largest irrigation project recorded a water flow of 52.8 meters at the Dalia Point of the Teesta Barrage, which is seven centimeters below the danger level. Earlier, at 6am, the water level at the same point was 10 centimeters below the danger level.

Due to the rising waters of the Teesta River, several areas have been affected. These include Kaliganj, Jhardingheshwar, Khagarchar, Juarchar, Banglapara, Uttor Khadibari, Baishpukur, and Jaldhaka upazila of Nilphamari district, Dimla upazila; char areas of Bhavnachar and Daowabari, Dohogram of Patgram, Lalmonirhat; Hatibandha’s Gaddimari, Doani, Fokirpara, Saniyazan unions; Nij Sheikh Sundar, Bagherchar, Singamari Union’s Dhubni; Sindurna, Patikapara, Daowabari, Kaliaganj upazila; Votmari, Shailmari, Nohali, Charbairati of Aditmari upazila; Falimari char and Khuniyagach of Sadar and Palashi upazila; Rajpur, Gokunda Union of Rajpur upazila.

The flooding has begun to affect the low-lying areas along the banks of the Teesta River in these regions.

Samshul Mia of Shaulmari Char in Kaliaganj upazila told the media, “When the water level rises in the river, the people of the char areas become trapped. Water has been rising since last night along the banks of the Teesta River.

We are concerned about flooding.”
Afzal Hossain from the Jhardingheshwar area of Dimla upazila stated that when the water level rises, the entire area remains at risk of flooding.

“The river was calm for a few days in June and July, but in the past few weeks, despite the water level decreasing, it has started to rise again since last night. It’s not a temporary relief; a permanent solution should be sought through river excavation,” he said.

Ashafuddoula, the Executive Engineer of the Dalia Water Development Board, told the media that the water level of the Teesta River had been fluctuating in June and July.

“Although the water level remained low for several weeks, it started to rise again last night.

As of 9am on Thursday, the water level of the river is 7 centimeters below the danger level at that point. Earlier, at 6am, the water level at the same point was 10 centimeters below the danger level.

To control the water, all 44 gates of the barrage have been opened. The water might recede at midday,” he said.