Dhaka – The government is working to sign an agreement with India over the implementation of proposed Ganges Barrage Project which is expected to bring about massive socio-economic development in Bangladesh’s southwestern region.
“We’re working in full swing over the matter (Ganges Barrage Project cooperation with India). There’re also talks through diplomatic channels. Initially, there could be an MoU,” Senior Secretary Ministry of Water Resources Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan told UNB.
He said the signing of an MoU with India over the project is under their plan, but it is not finalised yet.The government wants to construct the barrage in cooperation with the Indian government.
Dr Zafar said they have already invited a high-profile Indian technical team to visit Bangladesh and the visit is expected to take place in January next to see the project site. “If they (India) agree, then there’ll be something soon.”
He said this project is needed to resist salinity in the country’s southwestern region as it will maintain navigability in 19 districts alongside conserving water during the dry season. “Once the Ganges Barrage Project is implemented, it’ll boost the country’s GDP growth by around 2 percent.”
Asked whether there would be anything during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s possible visit to India in February next, Zafar said, “Strong efforts are on from both sides. Hopefully, there might be something.”
Officials at the Ministry of Water Resources said the ministry has already completed a feasibility study, the detailed engineering design, and the estimate for the mega project. The cost estimated at around $ 4 billion.
Indian authorities have also submitted their study report and detailed engineering design for the project.
The authorities have selected Pangsha in Rajbari district as the site of the 2.1-km Ganges Barrage. It will take two to three years to construct the main barrage, and 10 to 12 years to complete the project.
The government has already completed the feasibility study and design of the proposed 2.1km long Ganges Barrage Project at Pangsha of Rajbari, some 98km downstream from the Farakka Barrage built in the Paschimbanga state of India.
The proposed project has a reservoir to augment the flow of water and its equal distribution, in both dry and wet seasons, over the Ganges dependent areas. The project will meet the demand of the Ganges water for agriculture, fisheries, ecosystems and navigation.
The barrage is expected to increase the navigability of the rivers in the impact areas, reduce salinity, and help save the Sundarbans. Up to 50 km inland from the sea, river water turns saline during the dry season.
The barrage is also likely to increase the flow of sweet water and the navigability of 24 big and small rivers, including the Garai, Chandana, Bhairab, Kapotaksha, Mathabhanga, Madhumati and Nabaganges.
The barrage is expected to facilitate irrigation of almost 4.6 million hectares of land in 26 districts, resulting in increased production of crops worth almost Tk. 1,000 crore a year.
The project also comprises two hydropower plants of 76 megawatts (MW) and 36 MW. According to the partial feasibility study, the barrage is expected to help the salinity-hit areas produce another 25 lakh tonnes of rice and 2.4 lakh tonnes of fish annually.
At present, the people of the southwestern part of the country are suffering badly because of the salinity of river water, which affects irrigation and agriculture. The southwestern region constitutes 37 percent of the total land areas of the country, and is dependent on the Ganges River system.
People’s suffering began after the Farakka Barrage was built in India in 1975, reducing the flow of water to the Ganges river system.
The government had taken initiatives to construct the Ganges Barrage in 1972. But, the project was shelved after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975. – UNB
