BSS :
Re-excavation of 30-kilometre portions of five extinct canals has freed 6,100 hectares of land from water-logging after three decades turning those cultivable benefiting 19,575 farmers of 75 villages in greater Rangpur district.
Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) has conducted the re-excavation work for conserving surface water creating an opportunity to provide irrigation to the 6,100 hectares of land and supplementary irrigation to more 2,800 hectares of land.
“The canal re-excavation will enable farmers to produce an additional 30,500 tonnes of crops worth Taka 60 crore annually and improve livelihoods of rural people alongside improving environment, ecology and biodiversity,” a BMDA official said.
BMDA is re-excavating 230 kilometres of extinct canals and rivers under its five-year (2019-2024) term ‘Expansion of irrigation in greater Rangpur district through best uses of surface water and conservation of rainwater (EIR)’ project spending Taka 250.56 crore.
Re-excavation of 4.50-km portion of the Mora Teesta canal, 3.50-km of the Ghirnoi canal, 8-km each of the Chatra canal and Shalmara canal in Rangpur and six-km portion of the Boalerdara canal in Kurigram already completed during the last one year
