BSS, Rajshahi :
Adoption of adequate and effective measures has become indispensable to address the existing water crisis in the vast barind tract.
The dried barind tract comprising of 25 upazilas under Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon districts, has become vulnerable in many ways amid declining groundwater table as the groundwater layers are not recharged properly in comparison to the declining rate.
Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar of Geology and Mining Department of Rajshahi University said massive extraction of groundwater have lowered the level of freshwater table. The adverse situation creates negative impact on crop yield affecting the farmers economically.
Recharge of groundwater table might have been hampered due to lack of sufficient rainfall besides the adverse impact of climate change, he added.
Earlier, only the Irri-boro rice was irrigation dependent but, at present, many other crops including the rain-fed Aush paddy have become dependent on irrigation. In addition to feeding the local population, the region is contributing to supply of cereals especially rice to other parts of the country.
Prof Sattar, however, said the unprecedented fall of water level in the major rivers and tributaries have created an adverse impact on the livelihood of marginalised people.
The natural scientist termed water as a fundamental human right and stressed the need for making the water accessible to all especially the poor and marginal farmers, who are deprived of the basic rights, due to varied reasons, including the adverse impacts of climate change.
He said the geophysical condition of the barind area’s groundwater is completely detrimental to the extracted water quality and the excessive use of groundwater through irrigation, depletes groundwater table and makes the hand-driven tubewells inoperative.
Prof Bidhan Chandra Das of Zoology Department of the same university revealed that the barind tract has around 7,000 ponds and canals but most of them have dried up during the current dry season.
The existing surface water resources like rivers along with their tributaries, canals and other floodplains and wetlands have become almost dead due to the adverse impact of climate change.
He said immediate and effective steps should be taken to make the best use of surface water for irrigation side by side with lessening the pressure on groundwater in dry areas.
