Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 14.6
Average monthly flow volume of three river basins (in million cusecs - Mm
3
)
Average monthly flow
Ganges at Hardinge
Bridge
Brahmaputra at
Bahadurabad
Meghna at
Bhairabbazar
Month
Total discharge
1
2
3
4
5
January
8,335
13,910
1,590
23,835
February
6,560
10,420
1,200
18,180
March
6,190
12,615
1,700
20,505
April
5,330
17,680
2,430
25,440
May
5,280
42,430
5,180
52,890
June
11,170
84,190
9,900
105,260
July
47,855
118,035
20,925
186,815
August
100,540
120,785
22,170
243,495
September
95,805
94,055
21,305
211,165
October
46,175
58,790
16,710
121,675
November
18,420
27,150
7,980
53,550
December
11,235
18,040
2,650
31,925
Annual
362,895
618,100
113,740
1,094,735
0.363 million Mm
3
0.618 million Mm
3
0.114 million Mm
3
1.095 million Mm
3
Say,
Nepal and Bhutan, can be a network of electrically-operated ropeway system across
their mountainous territories and also with adjacent places in India and Bangladesh.
As Nepal does not have high technical capability, such development is possible only
if it generates and sells hydro-power to India in bulk, for which bilateral negotiations
and understandings with Delhi are necessary. Trilateral or multilateral negotiations
on this issue will be very difficult and may not succeed, unless a bilateral accord
is reached. Already, India has stated the process with both Nepal and Bhutan and
understandings on a few projects have been reached and yielded good results. The
construction of barrages across the Kosi and the Gandak has been possible with such
bilateral understanding between India and Nepal for the development of irrigation
in two countries. Negotiations are also going on for construction of high dams in
the San Kosi, the Tamur, the Kali Gandaki, the Chisapani etc., all of which would
be located within Nepal. As stated, the Chukha hydro-power project would not have
materialised but for technical and financial assistance by India. The work of the Tala
hydro-power project is now in progress (2008) in Bhutan with also India's technical
assistance.
Nepal and Bhutan suffer from enormous land erosion owing to the steep
ground contour and large-scale deforestation, causing a veritable ecological disaster.
Torrential rivers aggravate erosion in monsoon months, making their governments
export eroded soil. If this continues unabated, Nepal will, some day, embrace
ecocide, bringing in its trail widespread hunger and starvation of an increasing
population. Nepal's economy was precarious for a long time because of political
instability. It can never balance its trade with India unless it is able to produce and
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