ZCZC
BSS-28
HAOR-INFRASTRUCTURE-FLOOD
Experts for eco-friendly infrastructures to protect flash flood
DHAKA, Dec 20, 2017 (BSS) – Water and environment experts today said haor
areas need innovative and eco-friendly infrastructures to protect early flash
flood as the region has unique geological natures.
Aiming to cope with unique hydro-ecological characteristics, eco-friendly
measures should be considered for future planning, design and development in
haor areas by relevant organizations, they told a workshop at the CIRDAP
auditorium here.
Department of Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Development and Centre for
Environmental Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) organized the workshop
on “Impact of assessment of structural interventions in haor ecosystem and
innovation for solution”.
Water Resource Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, State Minister for Water
Resource Muhammad Nazrul Islam, Director General of Department of Bangladesh
Haor and Wetland Development
Dr Md Majibur Rahman, Executive Director of CEGIS Engineer Md Waji Ullah,
hydrologists and environmentalists, among others, addressed the workshop with
Senior Secretary of the Water Resource Ministry Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan in the
chair.
Deputy Executive Director of Malik Fida A Khan presented the keynote paper
highlighting different aspects of haor region and key interventions to
protect early flash flood.
Anisul laid emphasis on constructing and repairing embankments in haor
areas considering geographical reality to prevent untimely flood and other
natural disasters. “We know flash flood is a major problem for haor region
for a long period of time. So, we have to take special planning for the haor
region to minimize losses of lives and properties caused by flood,” he added.
He urged the officials and local people to maintain embankments to make it
sustainable which will eventually save the country from flood.
Anisul said many major and small rivers and their tributaries are facing
serious navigability problem as all the rivers carry huge quantity of
sediment during rainy season every year.
“Our major and small rivers cannot contain much water during rainy season
due to navigability problem, which is one of the main reasons for flooding in
the country. Taking this into consideration, the government is carrying
capital dredging to ensure adequate flow of water during rainy season,” the
minister added.
In his keynote presentation, Malik said all submersible embankment should
be kept at design level within February to protect early flash flood. As many
as 373 haors cover an area of 8590 square kilometers, which is 44 percent of
the total area of the haor region, he added.
BSS/MN/MMR/ARS/1816 hrs