India starts sharing flood-related data
Staff Correspondent
With the start of the year’s designated monsoon period on 1 May, India has started sharing with Bangladesh flood-related data of identified stations on trans-boundary rivers, through the existing Joint Rivers Commission mechanism.
Under the aegis of Bangladesh-India Joint Rivers Commission framework, India has been sharing flood related data such as water level, forecast level, discharge and rainfall of identified Indian stations on trans-boundary rivers such as, Brahmaputra, Barak, Manu, Gumti, Teesta, Jaldhaka, Torsa, Mahananda and Ganga for the purpose of flood forecasting and warning in Bangladesh territory.
This has quite effectively assisted Bangladesh in the stated purpose, according to a note on flood data sent to Bangladesh from India.
The arrangement of flood data transmission was periodically reviewed and revised in the past as per the request of Bangladesh, and presently, the data of the identified Indian stations is being transmitted to Bangladesh on a continuous basis during the designated flood period.
Earlier, the designated period of flood data transmission was from 1st May to 15th October, but was extended to 31st October in 2022 to reflect the flood situations arising out of delayed end to the monsoon.
Last year, a WhatsApp group of concerned officers of Bangladesh and India, engaged in flood forecasting and warning activities, was also set up for seamless and timely data transmission, and the messaging group was reactivated on 1 May.
