Work on second phase of Teesta Irrigation Project yet to kick off

A partial view of the Teesta Barrage in Nilphamari. PHOTO: STAR

For its implementation, an amount of Tk 1,166 cr was sanctioned in the ECNEC meeting on January 21 this year. But no donor country or organisation came forward to finance the project till now while the second phase work is supposed to be completed by nine years.

The second phase is divided into three units. Expenditure of the first unit is Tk 309.99 cr while that of second unit Tk 444.29 cr and that of third unit Tk 410.64 cr.

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Experts opined, after completion of first unit of the second phase, an additional 96,575 hectares of land would likely be brought under irrigation network resulting in production of additional foodgrains worth Tk 300 cr.

The second phase work is aimed at covering more 4,48,774 hectares of land with additional production target of 16,64,000 metric tons (MTs) of foodgrains in greater Rangpur, Dinajpur and Bogra districts.

Locals opined that it would not be wise to sit idle for foreign assistance, rather it would be wiser to begin its implementation work with financial support of GOB.

If the work is completed with the financial support of GOB then Tk 3.5 cr would be saved which was spent earlier as foreign advisors' fee.

The first phase included construction of barrage which brought 79,000 hectares of land under irrigation network.

About 7,90,000 MTs of foodgrains are produced annually through utilisation of irrigation facilities provided after completion of first phase work in 1998.

Before construction of Teesta barrage, only 3,16,000 MTs of foodgrains were produced on the lands.

Following success of the first phase' work, people in agriculture-based northern districts want quick implementation of the second phase' work.

In the first phase construction of barrage and other structures were included. The target was irrigation on 5, 40,000 hectares of land. But creation of 35.67-km long Bogra canal which was included in the first phase remained incomplete. Only 5.37-km work of Bogra canal was completed with parts of secondary and tertiary canals. For non-completion of remaining work of first phase, 20,180 hectares of land remained out of irrigation network.