Drastic water fall in Teesta

Farmers under the Teesta irrigation project are cultivating crops other than boro paddy as they are not getting required quantity of water for irrigation of boro fields.

Farmers had to move away from boro cultivation as the Water Development Board (WDB) is unable to provide irrigation water to their boro fields as water flow in the Teesta river falls drastically during the season due to closing of all the gates of India's Gajaldoba barrage in the upstream of the Teesta river.

Agriculture Extension Officer (AEO) of Teesta Irrigation Project in Dalia division Rafiul Bari said, “Water flow in Teesta falls to 1,000 cusec, while at least 5,000 cusec is needed for proper irrigation.”

“With this poor flow, we can't provide enough water for irrigation, so we have decided to give irrigation water to only 8,000 hectares of boro land this year, which is about one-eighth of the 65,000 hectares in previous years,” the AEO added.

The newly set target covers only four upazilas of Nilphamri -- Dimla, Jaldhaka, Kishoreganj and Sadar.

Farmers said they can either cultivate multiple crops that need less irrigation, or cultivate boro using costly diesel-run pumps, in the remaining 57,000 hectares.

In a recent visit by this correspondent to Kukha Para, Beg Para, Monosa Para, Kamar Para, Jhar Para villages in Sadar upazila beside the Dinajpur branch canal, he found that many farmers have cultivated wheat, maize, pumpkin and other crops on their lands, instead of boro, though the area is likely to get irrigation water as per WDB's new target.

Farmer Shamsul Islam, 55, of Monsa Para said, “We don't get water from Dinajpur canal, so we are unable to cultivate boro paddy as it needs intensive irrigation. Finding no other way, we cultivate wheat, maize and other crops that need less or no irrigation.”

Bhadu Mamud of Beg Para said, “Farmers in the upstream close to Teesta barrage block the canal to divert water to their fields, depriving farmers like me of water, so I cultivate wheat.”

Executive Engineer of WDB in Dalia Mostafizur Rahman said, “Due to scanty water flow in Teesta, we're supplying irrigation water on rationing basis.”