RAJSHAHI, Sept 15, 2019 (BSS) – Barind Multipurpose Development Authority
(BMDA) paved ways to use rainwater for irrigation by conserving it aims at
lessening the gradually mounting pressure on underground water in the region.
The authority has already implemented a seven-year project titled ‘Barind
Rainwater Conservation and Irrigation’ in drought-affected nine districts of
the region for this reason.
Shibir Ahmed, Superintending Engineer of BMDA, said 600 kilometers of
state-owned derelict canal, 200 ponds and six other water bodies have been
re-excavated under the project to conserve rainwater.
Ninety-seven water control structures and a rubber dam were also
constructed to accumulate rainwater, he said.
More than 38,000 hectares of croplands are getting irrigation from
conserved rainwater resources in the Barind area, benefiting the farmers in
many ways at present, he added.
The BMDA, an ever-largest irrigation providing state-owned entity in the
northwestern region, so far, re-excavated 2,000 kilometres of canal and 3,098
ponds side by side with construction of 749 cross-dams and excavation of 417
dug-wells for successful promotion of surface water irrigation, said Engineer
Abdur Rashid, Executive Director of BMDA.
At present, re-excavation works of four canals are progressing fast,
expecting to get 1,250 hectares of cultivable lands along both sides of the
canals, he said.
The canals are being re-excavated under a project titled “Extension of
Irrigation Facilities and Mitigation of Water Logging in Bagha, Charghat and
Paba Upazilas of Rajshahi District”.
The project includes re-excavation of 28-kilomter canal, construction of
1,535-meter concrete wall and 100-meter slabs, four foot-over bridges and
digging of 20 dug-walls, said project director Engineer Nazirul Islam.
Upon successful completion of the project by December, 2020, more than
1,600 hectares of croplands will be brought under irrigation process which
will produce around 8,800 metric tons of additional food grains per year, he
said.
A total of 10 low lift pumps run by two cusec solar panels each will be
installed for lifting water from the canal for irrigation in farming lands.
Mofidul Islam Bachhu, Chairman of Harian Union Parisahd under Paba
Upazila, said the initiative will also reduce the gradually mounting pressure
on groundwater.
Engineer Rashid said restriction has been imposed on furthermore
installation of deep-tube-well in the drought-prone areas to discourage the
extraction of underground water.
The BMDA will take the lead to increase surface water use through promoting
rainwater accumulating technologies in the days to come, he added.