South Asia

India and Bangladesh seek to sign deal on flood data sharing with Nepal

Update: 05:41, 31 July 2022

Himalayas country Nepal is holding discussions with India and Bangladesh about sharing of weather and flood data in real time so as to help avoid monsoon-induced disasters.

During a meeting of the Nepal-Bangladesh Joint Expert Committee on Harnessing Water Resources and Mitigating Floods and Flood Damages held on Thursday_ two countries agreed to conclude a Bangladeshi proposal on real time data sharing on weather and flood forecasting.

Nepal and India are also scheduled to hold discussion on data sharing during the next meeting of the joint committee on water resources expected to be held in early September in Kathmandu_ according to Nepal officials.

Maheshwor Shrestha_ joint secretary at the Nepal Ministry of Energy_ Water Resources and Irrigation_ said as per the Bangladeshi proposal_ Nepal will share real-time data on floods in the country. 'Bangladesh will share real-time meteorological data concerning the Bay of Bengal_' he said_ adding real-time data on monsoon activity over the Bay of Bengal would help Nepal prepare for rainfall and floods.

'Bangladesh_ as a downstream country_ faces the risk of floods constantly and it can minimise the risks of monsoon-induced disasters with the availability of real-time data about floods in Nepal and India_' He added.

Nepal's major rivers including Koshi_ Narayani and Karnali are major tributaries of the Ganges river in northern India. The Ganges winds its way through northern India_ eventually emptying into the Bay of Bengal. Hence_ flood data of Nepal's river system will be important for Bangladesh to avoid the risks of floods in the country.

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology_ it gets real time data on water level from the sensor installed in several rivers including Koshi_ Narayani and Karnali.

If such an agreement is signed with Bangladesh_ it will be the first time Nepal would be sharing data about floods and weather with any country_ Shrestha_ the joint secretary_ said.