New Indian barrage poses threat to environment, farming in northern region

Environment and farming face a threat following construction of yet another barrage by India, withdrawing water of 14 rivers flowing through Bangladesh.

India constructed a four-facet embankment at Fulbari in Shiliguri, 200 yards off Banglabandha, Panchagarh, to divert water of the Mahananda river flowing into the Bangladesh territory.

The new embankment has been designed by India to divert sources of 14 rivers flowing through Bangladesh. The Indian authority has also created three artificial lakes north of the embankment to preserve the diverted water.

With the construction of sluice gates, water is being unilaterally withdrawn and passed through a feeder canal for irrigation in India.

As a result all the 14 rivers have become almost dry.

The construction of the Fulbari barrage, undertaken in 1982, was completed in 1986 at a cost of 250 crore Indian Rupees. There are 25 radial sluice gates in the project.

When contacted Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) engineers told BSS that because of unilateral withdrawal of water by India from 14 rivers, many shoals emerged in the rivers and silts deposited on riverbeds where boro paddy is being cultivated.

BWDB officials pointed out that this phenomenon has caused an acute crisis of water in eight districts of northern districts during dry season.