RAJSHAHI, Nov 13, 2017 (BSS)- Water experts at a workshop here on Sunday called for stopping indiscriminate extraction of groundwater for lessening the gradually mounting pressure on it in the vast Barind area.
They viewed that an adverse impact has already been created on aquifer due to excessive extraction of ground water for irrigation and other purposes in the dried area.
The observation came in a dissemination workshop titled “Bangladesh Water Rules- 2017 (draft) prepared based on Bangladesh Water Act, 2013” at circuit house conference hall here.
Water Resource Planning Organization (WARPO) and DASCOH jointly organized the daylong workshop with financial support from Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation- SDC.
Additional Secretary of Ministry of Water Resources Mohammad Yousuf and Director General of WARPO Khondokar Khalequzzaman addressed the workshop as chief and special guests with Commissioner of Rajshahi division Nur-Ur-Rahman in the chair.
Joint Chief of Ministry of Water Resources Monto Kumar Biswas, Additional Divisional Commissioner Aminul Islam, Director of WARPO Firoj Alam, Senior Programme Officer of Swiss Embassy Sabina Yasmin and Chief Executive Officer of DASCOH Akramul Haque also spoke.
During his keynote presentation, Engineer Rezaul Karim, Chief Scientific Officer and Project Director of WARPO, said groundwater level has been declining alarmingly in Barind area. Every year, the aquifer has been lowering by 2.5 to three meters.
“If this situation prolongs, water crisis will reach to an alarming point within next five to ten years. The situation will apparently create acute crises of drinking water,” said Engineer Karim.
So, this is the high time of protecting and conserving all the existing surface water resources for optimum aquifer recharge.
Additional Secretary Mohammad Yousuf said the present government has enacted a law in 2013 in order to formulating rules for integrated development, management, harvesting, distribution, uses, protection and preservation of water resources.
DASCOH Chief Executive Officer Akramul Haque underscored the need for finding out effective strategies to cope with the existing and new challenges regarding water and sanitation in drought situation in the region particularly Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts.