Country gets first hydraulic elevator dam
The agriculture ministry yesterday inaugurated the country's first hydraulic elevator dam in Chattogram's Anwara upazila to retain surface water for farming, specifically crop irrigation, said a press release.
Hydraulic elevator dams resemble sluice gates in series, each operable individually, in combinations or altogether using hydraulic power.
Chinese firm IWHR Corporation constructed the 38-metre-long dam on Bharashank canal under a Tk 21 crore project implemented by Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation.
The dam will enable irrigation of 3,000 hectares of land and be instrumental in protecting crops and plants in a 10-kilometre area from intrusion of saline water during the January-May period, said the press release.
The ministry said the modern technology was in use in China, making it possible to retain fresh water from upstream and prevent intrusion of brackish water from downstream to protect crops.
Virtually inaugurating the first ever hydraulic elevator dam, Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said groundwater was depleting for use in irrigating boro rice and other crops.
For this, more such hydraulic elevator dams will be built throughout the country to retain surface water for irrigation, he said.
Bangladesh has 67 rubber dams which have been constructed to facilitate irrigation.
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