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Padma water level falls threatening irrigation

14 February 2009, 18:00 PM

NATIONAL

Our Correspondent, Pabna

Fishing boats lie idle on the Padma as scanty fish due to lack of flow in the once mighty river has thrown thousands of fishermen out of job. Photo: STAR

Water level of 'mighty Padma' is falling fast threatening irrigation projects in the southern and northern districts. Most of the rivers' tributaries of this zone are drying up affecting irrigation under the 'Ganga-Kobadak (GK) project, sources said. Navigation is becoming difficult, fishes depleting throwing thousands of fishermen out of job. The quantity of water down from the Farakka point has decreased alarmingly due to unilateral withdrawal of the Ganges water by upper riparian India, unofficial sources informed. But the officials claim that Bangladesh gets the promised share of water. Bangladesh is supposed to get 50 percent of water in each 10 days cycle alternatively from January 1 to May 31 every year as per the water sharing agreement. In that case, Bangladesh should get 66 to 70 thousand cusec water. But in fact, only 50 to 55 thousand cusec water have been released in each cycle of January this year, sources said. “Bangladesh gets the appropriate proportion of water as promised in the water sharing agreement. The agreement says the share of water would be calculated on the basis of the water level at Farakka point. So if the water level at Farakkah point goes high, then Bangladesh will get more water but if the water level is low, then the country will get less.” Md Daulut Uz Zaman, a high official of Pabna Hydrology Department told this correspondent. The members of the Joint River Commission are monitoring the situation he said. During a recent survey, it was found that Padma was drying up at various points posing threat to several link rivers in the northern and southern parts of the country. Poor water level in the river might hamper irrigation under the GK project, one of the largest agriculture projects, covering around 2 lakh hectares of land in four southern districts. The irrigation pumps of GK project will resume operation in March, Md. Akhter Hossain, project director (PD) of GK project, told this correspondent. There are three main pumps and 12 sub-pumps under the project, he said, adding minimum 4 (3.93) metre water level in Padma would be needed to keep the pumps operative. Experts forecast that the water level will recede alarmingly in March and April, seriously affecting the irrigation project.