Teesta Barrage inoperative for fall in water level

Boro seedbeds are seen in the riverbed of the Jamuneswary at Singdai village in Sadar upazila, Nilphamari. Most of the riverbedsin the district have dried up due to unilateral withdrawal of water by India. PHOTO: STAR

As a result, Teesta Barrage, the largest irrigation project of the country has become inoperative due to shortage of water.

Usually India opens all gates of Gozaldoba barrage at the upstream of the Teesta in the rainy season. At that time the rivers can not contain additional water and overflow banks causing flood. But the rivers become almost dry in the dry season. All the tributaries of the Teesta and 20 other small and big rivers of the district have dried up due to the phenomenon. A few rivers have little water but people can cross the rivers simply by walking.

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However, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) did not take any initiative to excavate the rivers for smooth flow of water.

A source in the BWDB told The Daily Star, there are eight rivers in the district, according to their official list. The rivers are as follows: the Teesta, the Charalkata, the Deunai, he Buri Khora, the Buri Teesta, the Jamuneswari, the Kharkharia and the Dhaijan. The BWDB had informed the higher authorities to excavate at least three of the rivers. But the excavation work was not possible due to non-availability of fund.

In the ongoing boro season, farmers set up shallow pumps at 5-8 feet deep from the ground level because the underground water level has gone down sharply.

Even a few years back, all the rivers flowed with violent current and had good navigability.

Because of the phenomenon, normal production of fish is also hampered. As a result, many fish species have become extinct due to lack of breeding ground. This results in joblessness of hundreds of fishermen.

Many 'ferry ghats' also became useless owing to want of water.

Now farmers cultivate paddy in the dried up riverbed. While visiting a few rivers, this correspondent found that many farmers had prepared seed beds in the riverbeds. Farmers also told The Daily Star that dry river beds are suitable for paddy cultivation because of siltation.

In many places influential people of the surrounding villages illegally occupied the riverbeds, filled those with earth and made plain lands.

The riverbeds also rose due to siltation gathered for years together.