Sylhet rivers drying up

DYING SURMA...the river is getting silted up due to lack of dredging. The photo was taken from Kushighat point in Sylhet city. PHOTO: STAR

Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said water flows in Surma, Kushiyara, Khowai, Monu, Kalni, Piain and their tributaries have been reduced drastically, causing emergence of hundreds of shoals in the rivers flowing through four districts in the region.

The rivers have virtually turned into narrow streams in Sunamganj, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Sylhet districts.

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As the groundwater has fallen, tubewells have become useless in many regions. Even in some areas of Sylhet city, a good number of deep tubewells have become inoperative, officials said.

The serious situation has been created due to climatic changes and deposit of sands from upstream areas in the monsoon, coupled with absence of planned dredging of the major rivers. The BWDB officials said the Surma is being silted up at its starting point across the border.

If the situation continues, a desertification process will begin in the north-eastern region, some officials observed.

Officials of Indian state of Assam and Bangladesh at meetings had agreed to implement a joint programme for dredging of Surma in Sylhet and Barak in Assam to increase their flows. But it is yet to start, they said.

Barak enters Bangladesh in the name of Surma and Kushiyara at Amolshid of Jakiganj in Sylhet.

Due to silting up of the river at the starting point, Surma gets only 20 per cent while the Kushiayara gets 70 per cent of the poor flow.

The BWDB officials said experts are seriously concerned over what they called the 'apathy' of India regarding dredging of the rivers.

Besides, the Indian plan to construct the proposed Barak Dam and hydro-electric project in Manipur has become a cause of concern for people in Sylhet region.

The Barak originating in Manipur hills has entered into Bangladesh through Assam.