National Desk :
Senior Secretary to the Ministry of Water Resources Kabir Bin Anwar has said the surface water resources will be enriched through river dredging for lessening the gradually mounting pressure on underground water.
He said around 300 kilometers of waterways of the Atrai, Korotoa, Ichamati and Hurasagar rivers will be brought under dredging as soon as possible for creating water reservoirs to use the conserved water for irrigation during the dry season.
The secretary made the observation while addressing a view-sharing meeting titled “District Integrated Water Resource Management in implementation of the Bangladesh Water Act 2013 and Bangladesh Water Rules 2018 in Naogaon” virtually as the chief guest on Thursday.
Water Resource Planning Organization (WARPO), an apex planning body in the water sector, hosted the meeting at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner (DC), Naogaon, largely attended by officials from all the line departments and other stakeholders.
Additional Secretary to the Water Resource Ministry Md Rokon Ud Dowla, Commissioner of Rajshahi division Dr Humayun Kabir, WARPO Director General Delwar Hossain and its Director Alamgir Hossain and Chief Executive Officer of DASCOH Foundation Akramul Haque also addressed the meeting with DC Harun-Or-Rasheed in the chair.
Senior Secretary Kabir Anwar has called for substantial and sustainable promotion of rainwater harvesting that can also be the crucial means of enriching surface water resources in the Barind area. He said the present government under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working relentlessly to ensure water rights to all.
It has adopted diversified steps to ensure water rights as everyone has equal rights to water and an optimum use of water can ensure it. WARPO Project Director Engineer Rezaul Karim gave an illustration on the issue besides highlighting the aspects of protection and conservation of the groundwater resources in the dried area in his keynote presentation.
