Pipeline water keeps life sweet

The reservoir in Fulbari village in Gobindabanj upazila in Gaibandha (left) from where arsenic-free water is being supplied to houses and paddy fields. PHOTO: STAR

Most houses have pipeline supply of arsenic-free water for use and to irrigate paddy fields.

Life in the village in Gobindagnaj upazila in Gaibandha district has changed since the Bogra Rural Development Academy implemented a pilot project under its Centre for Irrigation and Water Management (CIWM) programme three years ago.

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Households in the village get safe water at a nominal charge of Tk 50 per month. They no more use hand operated tube-well for drinking water. The cost of irrigating IRRI-Boro land is Tk 2,000 per acre.

The pilot project was implemented in 2003 at a cost of Tk 8.40 lakh. The programme included construction of a big overhead reservoir with a capacity to store 40,000 litres of water, a deep turbine pump and laying of underground pipeline.

Over 300 families are getting pipeline water at houses and also for irrigation, said Mahmud Hossain, Director of Bogra Academy in charge of the CIWM programme.

Though the project was initially aimed at supplying arsenic-free drinking water and irrigating lands, it now serves manifold purposes. Dried up ponds are being refilled for fish cultivation and raising ducks and seedlings at nurseries are watered regularly.

This is a bright example how poor villagers can change life with minimum cost and effort, the director said while talking to this correspondent.

Fulbari Multi-purpose Samity, a co-operative society, played the key role in implementation of the programme. The money (Tk 8,40,000) for the project was given as a long term loan from the academy which is being refunded in 10 installments in 10 years.

This year water from the project is irrigating 50 acres of Irri-Boro lands. The reservoir has a capacity to cover 100 acres, the director said.

We will be able to reach the target to cover 100 acres by next two years, Mahmud said.

Soft loans totalling Tk 7 lakh have also been given to 165 members of the Samity for setting up small businesses.

"I started a small business by borrowing Tk 5,000 from the Samity. Now I have a capital of about Tk 20,000", said Abdul Hamil, a member of the Samity.

"Earlier, my family had to remain half-fed during Monga (a pre-harvest period when there is no work in villages in northern districts)", said Abdul Jobber.

The academy also provided 'foundation training' on different income generating activities for poor peasants to increase their livelihood.

Meanwhile, eight rice mills, 20 poultry farms, three dairy farms and a good number of nurseries have been set up in the village.

Intestinal and other diseases in the village have been drastically reduced since implementation of the project, said Abdul Wahab, Executive Director of the Samity.

The academy got the Independence Award in 2004 for the project.