Posted on July 20, 2017
With a view to bringing back the navigability of waterways and to save croplands from early flooding in Sunamganj, Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has started dredging of 2 rivers. Dredging of another would be started as its 2nd bidding would take more time.
Under the programme, dredging of 6 km on Rokti river would cost Tk 120 million, while 16 km on the Upper Boulai river system would cost Tk 396.9 million. Works on these 2 had already begun, said the officials.
However, 24 km dredging on the Old Surma (Punnya) river would cost about Tk 240 million. The authority would have to go for retender for this as the first bidding had to be cancelled on technical reasons, the source added. However, it would be done at an earliest.
Contacted, Superintending Engineer of BWDB Sylhet region Dr. Mizanur Rahman said the dredging is being done under a special project named ‘Early Flood Control & Irrigation Improvement Project in Haor Region’. Works on the dredging programme on the three rivers are set to be completed in two years, he said.
When implemented the Old Surma dredging programme would help saving the Boro paddy crops from the early floods on the different haors in Derai and Shulla upazilas of Sunamganj district. Same way dredging of the dried up Boulai river, which has been passing through Tahirpur and Dharmapasha upazilas would help saving crops from flooding on the areas.
Almost every year, natural calamities like early and flash floods, rolling down of water from the Indian hilly region, incessant rains etc cause damage to Boro crops on huge areas in the said districts.
The low-lying region, known as haor zone of the country is the major Boro producing area. Every year, Boro paddy is cultivated on about 700,000 hectares in the districts namely Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Sylhet, Kishoreganj and Netrokona.
Due to absence of the appropriate and sustainable efforts to save the lone crop of the region, the poor and marginal farmers suffer extremely almost every year mainly due to seasonal flooding and others.
Source: Financial Express
