The impact of the opening of Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso is significantly being felt in White and Black Volta Rivers in the Upper East Region. A visit to the White Volta basin at Pwalugu in the Talensi District by A1 NEWS Monday morning revealed water volume in the basin is fast rising.
Recent rains in the region got some farms in the area flooded and the opening of the dam last Friday could worsen the predicaments of farmers. The spillage of the Dam is done by SONABEL, managers of the Bagre dam in Burkina Faso whenever water level in the dam reaches 235 cubic meters.
White Volta River at Pwalugu
This is done to protect the banks of the dam from destruction since it would not be able to accommodate excess water beyond 235 cubic meters. But this activity sometimes causes havoc to communities in the Upper East and Northern regions with Upper East region recording highest destruction.
Last Friday August 31, the dam was opened and Deputy Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation in the Upper East Region, Paul Wooma, on Monday September 3, 2018, confirmed to A1 NEWS, water level in the White and Black Volta Rivers has risen and farmers and residents along the two rivers have cautioned to relocate to high grounds.
Samuel Mbura visited the White Volta Basin at Pwalugu Monday morning to gauge the impact of the spillage and reports that residents are threatened by the rising water volume in the basin.
Meanwhile, large hectares of farm fields have already been flooded following recent heavy rains in the region.
A local agent of the National Disaster Management Organisation, Martin Ayew, told A1 NEWS the steel bridge at the Pwalugu toll bridge has been vibrating for the past one month. This he attributed to the rise in water level as a result of torrential rains experienced in the region in recent times.
He expressed fear rising water level in the basin as a result of the opening of the dam could worsen the situation.
Source:A1Radioonline.com|101.1FM|Ghana
