RANGPUR, May 30, 2021 (BSS) – Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Md Mesbahul Islam has stressed on better coordination among all stakeholders concerned to ensure best use of surface water for irrigation to attain a sustainable agriculture.
“Reducing pressure on underground water for irrigation through ensuring best use of surface water alongside mechanisation and commercialisation of agriculture have become crucial to further increase food production under changed climatic conditions,” he said.
Mesbahul Islam said this while addressing as the chief guest at an orientation meeting on the ‘Expansion of Irrigation in greater Rangpur district through best uses of surface water and conservation of rainwater project (EIRP)’ held at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference room here on Saturday.
Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) is implementing the project spending Taka 250.56 crore in 35 upazilas of Rangpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha districts in greater Rangpur division to promote agriculture making best uses of surface water alongside improving environment, ecology and biodiversity.
Chairman of BMDA and former Member of Parliament from Naogaon-3 constituency Md Akram Hossain Chowdhury presided over the event arranged abiding by the health directives amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Divisional Commissioner Abdul Wahhab Bhuiyan, Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Agriculturist Md Asadullah and Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Md Asib Ahsan addressed the meeting as special guests.
Deputy Commissioners, Upazila Nirbahi Officers, municipal Mayors, Chairmen of Upazila and Union Parishads, officials of BMDA, DAE, Water Development Board, BADC, LGED and beneficiaries from all five districts in the project areas participated in the event.
Executive Director of BMDA Md Abdur Rashid delivered a welcome speech narrating activities of the organisation, its successes and goals and objectives of the EIRP project.
Project Director of the EIRP and Superintending Engineer of BMDA for Rangpur Circle Engineer Habibur Rahman Khan delivered a keynote presentation on the ongoing project activities in the greater Rangpur district.
“Under the project, re-excavation of canals and beels and ponds, installation of low lift pumps (LLPs), solar power-run dug wells and construction of foot over bridges and cross dams and tree plantation are being implemented,” Khan said.
Re-excavation of these water bodies will increase water holding capacity, facilitate drainage and waterlogged lands will become suitable for agriculture and stored water can be used for irrigation, poultry and fish farming and household activities.
The project has a target of re-excavating 230 kilometer of canals, 11 beels and 118 ponds, installation of 30 solar power-run LLPs, 100 electricity-run LLPs, 50 solar power-run dug wells and plantation of 2.30 lakh saplings of wood, fruit and medicinal plants.
“Stored water in re-excavated water bodies will largely reload groundwater tables and ensure irrigation to 10,250 hectares of land and free 350 hectares from water-logging for agricultural activities and enhance forest resources,” Khan said.
Akram Hossain Chowdhury suggested the authorities and stakeholders concerned to ensure better coordination among them for successful implementation of the EIRP project to reach its fruits to farmers and common people making best use of surface water.