BSS, Rajshahi :
The Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) has started re-excavating more other khash canals and ponds for rainwater conservation with the main thrust of extending irrigation facilities and to uplift socio- economic condition in this drought-prone area.
“We have scopes of enriching the surface water resources after proper retention and conservation of rainwater through re-excavating the existing derelict ponds and canals,” said Shibir Ahmed, Superintending Engineer of BMDA.
He said more use of surface water for irrigation has become an urgent need following abnormal lowering of groundwater table especially in high barind tract comprising 25 Upazilas of Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabgonj districts.
The BMDA, a state-owned organization, has decided to check any more installation of deep tubewell (DTW) to control the lowering of underground water table.
In the current Irri-boro season, the field level officials concerned are facing a great trouble to extend irrigation as extraction of groundwater has become very tough.
In an effort to minimize the water-stress condition, a five- year project titled “Barind Rainwater Conservation and Irrigation” has been adopted with an estimated cost of Taka 238.95 crore, which is being implemented in nine districts under Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions since June 2012.
The state-owned derelict canals are being re-excavated to increase the number of reservoirs for drawing rain waters and using it for various purposes, especially for irrigation, that is very important for the region in terms of water-stress condition.
Stressing the need for an environment-friendly irrigation system instead of indiscriminate use of groundwater resources for irrigation purposes, he said there is no alternative but to include the Barind area in any climate resilient fund.
The project has been designed to re-excavate khash canals, ponds and other possible water bodies for increasing the volume of reservoir to hold rainwater in the driest area and use the preserved water for various purposes, particularly in irrigation.
Shibir Ahmed said target has been set to re-excavate 900- kilometer canals, 700 ponds, nine other water bodies and construct 212 water control structures and two rubber dams to extend irrigation facilities towards around 50,000 hectares of farming lands.
Besides, 100 dug-wells would be excavated to provide drinking water to the poor people coupled with creating supplementary irrigation facilities.
The project has provision of transplanting three lakh fruit plant saplings and six lakh forest and medicinal plant sapling to create additional forest resources for developing environment and socio-economic condition.
On successful completion of the works of the project, it will help to produce about 37,800 metric tons of food through providing irrigation to 50,000 hectares of land from the conserved water sources annually, he added.
It will also create employment opportunities for the day labourers and marginal farmers in agriculture and living and livelihood condition of the farmers’ community is likely to the improved through crop production.
As a whole, the scheme will facilitate boosting round the year surface water uses for irrigation purposes. Engineer Ahmed said, it would also help improve environment there, a common concern of the area.
The Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) has started re-excavating more other khash canals and ponds for rainwater conservation with the main thrust of extending irrigation facilities and to uplift socio- economic condition in this drought-prone area.
“We have scopes of enriching the surface water resources after proper retention and conservation of rainwater through re-excavating the existing derelict ponds and canals,” said Shibir Ahmed, Superintending Engineer of BMDA.
He said more use of surface water for irrigation has become an urgent need following abnormal lowering of groundwater table especially in high barind tract comprising 25 Upazilas of Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabgonj districts.
The BMDA, a state-owned organization, has decided to check any more installation of deep tubewell (DTW) to control the lowering of underground water table.
In the current Irri-boro season, the field level officials concerned are facing a great trouble to extend irrigation as extraction of groundwater has become very tough.
In an effort to minimize the water-stress condition, a five- year project titled “Barind Rainwater Conservation and Irrigation” has been adopted with an estimated cost of Taka 238.95 crore, which is being implemented in nine districts under Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions since June 2012.
The state-owned derelict canals are being re-excavated to increase the number of reservoirs for drawing rain waters and using it for various purposes, especially for irrigation, that is very important for the region in terms of water-stress condition.
Stressing the need for an environment-friendly irrigation system instead of indiscriminate use of groundwater resources for irrigation purposes, he said there is no alternative but to include the Barind area in any climate resilient fund.
The project has been designed to re-excavate khash canals, ponds and other possible water bodies for increasing the volume of reservoir to hold rainwater in the driest area and use the preserved water for various purposes, particularly in irrigation.
Shibir Ahmed said target has been set to re-excavate 900- kilometer canals, 700 ponds, nine other water bodies and construct 212 water control structures and two rubber dams to extend irrigation facilities towards around 50,000 hectares of farming lands.
Besides, 100 dug-wells would be excavated to provide drinking water to the poor people coupled with creating supplementary irrigation facilities.
The project has provision of transplanting three lakh fruit plant saplings and six lakh forest and medicinal plant sapling to create additional forest resources for developing environment and socio-economic condition.
On successful completion of the works of the project, it will help to produce about 37,800 metric tons of food through providing irrigation to 50,000 hectares of land from the conserved water sources annually, he added.
It will also create employment opportunities for the day labourers and marginal farmers in agriculture and living and livelihood condition of the farmers’ community is likely to the improved through crop production.
As a whole, the scheme will facilitate boosting round the year surface water uses for irrigation purposes. Engineer Ahmed said, it would also help improve environment there, a common concern of the area.
