Barak River

The Barak River is one of the major rivers of southern Assam and is a part of the Surma-Meghna River System. It is the biggest and the most important of all the rivers in the Manipur hill territory, from where it originates. River Barak in Assam is also proposed to be declared as National Waterway-6 by Govt. of India and thereafter it will be developed with infrastructure facilities for commercial operations.

Near its source, the river receives a lot of little hill streams, including the Gumti, Howrah, Kagni, Senai Buri, Hari Mangal, Kakrai, Kurulia, Balujhuri, Shonaichhari and Durduria. It flows west through Manipur State, then southwest leaving Manipur and entering Mizoram State.

In Mizoram State the Barak flows southwest then veers abruptly north when joined by a north flowing stream and flows into Assam State where it turns westward again near Lakhipur as it enters the plains. It then flows west past the town of Silchar where it is joined by the Madhura River. After Silchar, it flows for about 30-odd kilometres & near Badarpur, it divides itself into the Surma River and the Kushiyara River and enters Bangladesh.

Source of Origin : in the Manipur Hills of India, near Mao Songsang

Drainage Area : Manipur, Mizoram, Assam, Bangladesh

Tributaries : Jiri, Dhaleshwari (Tlawng), Singla, Longai, Madhura, Sonai (Tuirial), Rukni and Katakhal

Dams : Tipaimukh Dam (Proposed)

Power-plant : The Indian state of Manipur on Oct 22 signed an agreement with state-owned NHPC Ltd and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd to construct the 1,500MW Tipaimukh hydroelectric power project in the north-eastern state. It was reported on Nov 18 that the controversial dam would come up on the Barak River, which flows into Bangladesh as Surma.