Govt plans for experts body to assess Tipai

Formation of an expert committee to assess the possible impact of the proposed Tipaimukh Dam on Bangladesh is under consideration, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said yesterday in parliament.
In its report to the parliament yesterday, the parliamentary delegation, which visited the controversial Tipaimukh Dam site, suggested the formation of the expert team to conduct a survey and assess the advantages and the overall impact of the dam on Bangladesh.
However, the prime minister said the expert team would be formed after examining the information and data already available on Tipaimukh Dam and those to be available in future.
During the question-answer hour in the Parliament, Hasina said, "The government is interested in resolving all kinds of problems in a peaceful way through dialogues giving priority to the country's interests."
She also said it is better for all to resolve problems with the neighbouring country through discussions instead of engaging in quarrels.
"Through dialogue, we have signed a 30-year-long water-sharing treaty with India on the Ganges. We will continue holding discussions with India to ensure that Bangladesh is not affected in any way," she said.
Meanwhile, chief of the parliamentary delegation Abdur Razzaq placed in parliament the report on their visit to the Tipaimukh dam site.
In the report, the delegation said they came to know that the proposed Tipaimukh dam project is for generation of electricity and for controlling the floods. "There is no component of irrigation in the project and water will not be withdrawn from the Barak," the report said.
The report said several Indian ministers, experts and high officials informed the team during its visit to India that the project would be implemented only to set up hydro power plant and to reduce the impact of floods.
The report said during their visit a presentation was made for them analysing the data on pre- and post-dam situation.
It said the data and information presented by the Indian authorities show that water level of the Barak would increase at Bangladesh border during dry seasons while water level will drop during monsoons, which will reduce severity of floods in Bangladesh.
In the report the delegation said they did not notice any kind of structure in and around the Tipaimukh site. Besides, the delegation also did not notice any barrage or any other structures downstream of Tipaimukh.
In the introductory speech to the report, delegation chief Razzaq said Indian government has provided them with some important information and data, which had not given to Bangladesh government earlier.
"The Indian government also assured us of providing necessary information on the issue in future," Razzaq said.
In the wake of stormy debate on the proposed Tipaimukh Dam and its negative impact on Bangladesh environment and economy, the government sent the parliamentary delegation to visit the dam site.
The 11-member delegation led by Razzaq visited India from July 29 to August 4.
The main opposition BNP, which did not nominate its lawmakers for the delegation, termed the visit a picnic party since the delegation members were not able to land at the site.
In the report, the delegation, however, said the helicopter carrying them could not land at the site due to bad weather but they had a good aerial view as the chopper flew low.