Balanced use of water must for Bangladesh

Bangladeshi people should maintain a good balance in using underground water and surface water for irrigation purposes to ensure the country's water security in future, said noted water scientist Dr Mac Kirby.
"It is very much important to understand the availability of underground water and surface water, and its sustainable use," said Dr Kirby, a scientist of Australia-based Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), while talking to reporters after a seminar yesterday.
Australian High Commission in Dhaka and CSIRO jointly organised the seminar styled “Solving water challenges - Water and food security: Experiences in Australia, Asia and Bangladesh” in Brac Centre Inn auditorium in the capital.
Water security in Bangladesh can be threatened by climate change, over population and other factors, said Dr Kirby, stressing the need for more research and accurate information for addressing the country's water challenges.
Addressing the seminar as chief guest, Water Resource Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen said the government will finalise the Water Act-2012 soon.
CSIRO in coordination with Bangladeshi partners - Institute of Water Modelling, Bangladesh Water Development Board, Water Resources and Planning Organisations, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, and Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services - had been conducting research on the overall water situation in Bangladesh since last year.
The research initiative titled “Bangladesh integrated water resources assessment project,” funded by AusAID, was launched in July last year.
Ramesh hoped that the research will help to understand the complex issues of water management and to formulate policies, plans and programmes in this regard.
Acting Australian High Commissioner in Dhaka Tim Bolotnikoff said, for the fiscal year 2012-13, Australian aid to Bangladesh stands at US $100.5 million and it is likely to increase in the next fiscal.