Pabna Correspondent: Even though India has opened all the gates of Farakka Dam, water in the Padma and Yamuna rivers is still stable in Pabna. Padma at Pakshi Hardinge bridge point of Ishwardi upazila and Yamuna river at Mathura point of Bera upazila is flowing far below the boundary line. Officials of the Water Development Board claimed that there is nothing to panic about, stating that the water has been stable at these two points for the past three days.
Pakshi Harding Bridge Point Water Development Board Reader Harifun Naeem Ibn Salam said on Wednesday (August 28) afternoon that the water of Padma at Pakshi Harding Bridge Point has been stable since August 26. In the last two days, the water level has been measured at 11.98 meters. On August 25, the water level at this point was 11.97 meters. On the other hand, the water level at Mathura point of the Yamuna river in Bhar is 7.70 cm. The water level here has also remained constant for the past few days.
He also said that although the 109 gates of Farakka Dam have been opened, the river water has not yet increased at Hardinge Bridge Point. It has been steady for the last three days. Moreover, the water level here has increased by less than a centimeter for about a week.
Kashem Ali, a fisherman in Pakshi’s Hardinge Bridge area, said, “I heard that India has opened all the gates of Farakka. I was in fear. I spent the night in fear. When I went down Hardinge Bridge with a fishing boat in the river early in the morning, I saw no signs of rising water. Because if the water increases, we will understand first.
Abdul Jabbar, a resident of the Sabarghat area of Ishwardi, said, ‘India has opened all the gates of the dam. So I spent a sleepless night. Because we have many houses drowned in floods here before. Many have moved to other places due to river erosion. Anyway, let the administration take measures for our safety before the flood.
Ilyas Hossain, assistant engineer of Pabna Water Development Board (PAUBO), said, “Although India has opened 109 gates of Farakka Dam, the water of Padma has not increased till now at Hardinge Bridge Point. The water depth at this point is 13.80 meters. Now the water height is 11.98 meters. The water of Padma is flowing far below the danger line.
Pabna Water Development Board Assistant Director Mosharf Hossain said, “There is no danger of flooding in Pabna region.” Because when the water of the Yamuna decreases, the water of the Padma increases. He said, “If the water of the Yamuna decreases and the water of the Padma increases at the same time, there will be no flood.” Now the water in Yamuna is decreasing rapidly. So we believe that there is no possibility of flooding. If anything, it is a matter of nature.’
He said, “The gate of Farakka was already open. Now I hear all the gates are open. At Hardinge Bridge Point on the Padma River, the latitude is 13.80 meters. Last Monday and Tuesday, the water level was 11.98 meters. There is no reason to worry. Water is flowing far below the danger zone. If the water crosses the 13.80 mark and rises up to 15 or 16 meters, there may be a risk to the dam. There is no possibility of breaking the dam in Pabna district.
