Dam Project Strains Indo-Bangladesh Relations

Water from the river, which enters Bangladesh about 100 kilometers downstream of the planned dam site, is essential for irrigation in Bangladesh. The dam was originally conceived to only contain flood water but later on, emphasis has been placed on hydroelectric power generation.

India commissioned the Farrakka Barrage in 1974 on the Ganges River along Bangladesh’s northern border to divert water to the Hooghly River in Kolkata. As a result, Bangladesh faced severe water shortages. The Bangladeshi opposition and environmentalists say the Tipaimukh dam will become another Farrakka and cause desertification in eastern Bangladesh. Mojaffer Ahmed, President of the "Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan," an environmental organization, says:

"This is for the first time the civil society in Bangladesh has raised its voice, and they are supported by environmentalists in eastern India. You see, when the Farraka dam was built, the civil society was kept ignorant. As far as our information goes, the Indian government has not yet given Bangladesh the design of the Tipaimukh dam and its environmental and social impact assessments. And if there are problems with the tectonic plates, earthquake risks, this information is not with us either."

Controversy in Dhaka

The dam has also stirred up a political controversy in Dhaka, with the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP opposing it and demanding that the Indian High Commissioner be sent home for his comments over the dam. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on the other hand, said the BNP was being overcritical about the dam and trying to "play games" instead of resolving the issue.

A parliamentary committee from Bangladesh will visit the dam site soon along with water experts for a joint survey before Dhaka makes a formal response to the project. Hasina has asked the opposition BNP to join the parliamentary delegation or send a separate team to the site.

India says apprehension baseless

"We are welcoming them. Once they come, they will know that their apprehension has got no substance," says T.C. Borgohain, executive director of the Tipaimukh Hydroelectric Project in India. He adds, "Bangladesh has no reason for complaining because this project is deep inside Indian territory, and secondly there is no diversion of water from the river. The water will be going back into the same river after a diversion of one kilometre."

Despite protests by environmentalists in both India and Bangladesh, India is sticking to the project. Project director Borgohain maintains that all the environmental issues and other factors have been taken into consideration and that the project will benefit both countries. "The main benefit is that there will be reclamation of land so far submerged by flood water, it will be minimised on both the banks. Thousands of square kilometres will become available for cultivation and other operation. Secondly, they will be benefited by water in the lean season also. They will be assured regulated flow, and there will be sufficient water during the dry season for navigation, fishing or irrigation."

But India will have to allay Bangladesh's fears to avoid a strain in relations between the neighbours. Work on the dam project which is limited to 2.5 square kilometres only is slated to start by September.

Author: Jaisu Bhullar
Editor: Grahame Lucas