By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, April 24, 2025 (BSS)- River water irrigation will help 30,000 more farmers to produce 1.40 lakh metric tonnes of crops on an additional 12,500 hectares of land in the drought-prone Barind area annually.

Ultimately, the venture will lessen the present situation of acute water crisis in the vast Barind tract to some extent as the current heat wave along with the abnormal lowering of underground water has created an alarming position.

As a whole, the farmers are dependent on underground water to cultivate their three seasonal crops around the year creating a negative impact on drinking water.

To mitigate adverse situations, a new initiative has been taken so that the farmers can cultivate their lands by using the Padma river water instead of extracting underground water.

Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), the ever-largest irrigation-providing government entity in the country's northwest region, has started implementing a project to attain the cherished goal.  

The project titled "Supply of Padma River's Water to Barind area for Extension of Irrigation by Double Lifting System (EIDL)" is being implemented in Godagari, Tanore and Paba Upazilas in the district with an estimated cost of around Taka 548.05 crore.

It aims to utilize the Padma River water to irrigate agricultural land in the Barind area using a double lifting system.

As part of the implementation of the project, the water from the Padma River will be lifted through booster-1 and booster pump-2 pump stations from the intake point at Jote Gosaidsh Sarangpur area under Godagari Upazila. The lifted water will be supplied to the nearby Dudhai canal.

To this end, 1000-millimeter diameter 18 to 20-kilometer pipelines will be installed.

Talking to BSS here on Wednesday, EIDL Project Director Shibir Ahmed said optimum use of surface water in the project area through development of a modern and sustainable irrigation system is the prime objective of the project.

Besides, prevention of wastage of irrigation water, increase in recharge of groundwater and production of additional crops by expanding irrigation are salient features.

On average, 120 cusec water will be supplied to the canals from rivers through high-density polyethylene, a strong and flexible thermoplastic used for various applications, including water supply, every day.

For this purpose, 120 low lift pumps will be installed by which the grassroots farmers can produce seasonal crops after bringing their new lands under cultivation round the year after the best uses of the irrigation privileges.

Upon successful implementation of the project by June 2027, the river water irrigation system will turn around 10,250 hectares of single crop area into triple crops which boost annual production of 1.4 lakh tonnes of additional crops.

He said the scheme is intended to increase the current irrigated areas through surface water in the project area from 2,012 hectares to 12,262 hectares which will contribute to reducing the pressure on groundwater to some extent.

Engineer Ahmed said the 120-kilometer derelict canals will be re-excavated to increase the water holding capacity of the canals to provide year-round irrigation to the command areas on both sides of the canals through channelling the water of the Padma River into the canals.

"We will provide training to 600 more farmers on modern agriculture, irrigation infrastructure, and moderate use of ground and surface water," he added.

Praising the initiative Habibur Rahman, 56, a beneficiary farmer of Basudevpur village, said their 20 bigha of barren lands will be brought under irrigation.

"We couldn't cultivate our many lands due to shortage of irrigation water and we were affected economically for a long time badly," said another farmer Sultanul Islam of the same area.

He, however, said their barren lands will be brought under irrigation upon successful implementation of the project. Many of his fellow farmers will get benefits from intervention in the project, he added.

BMDA Chairman Dr Muhammad Asaduzzamn told BSS that they intended to spread surface water irrigation in the Rajshahi region, particularly in its vast Barind area.

Surface water irrigation appeared to be the best tool to mitigate the gradually mounting pressure on underground water in the drought-prone Barind area, which has scores of natural water bodies that currently remain in derelict condition.

He said the transformation of all the existing underground water-based irrigation systems into surface water ones can be a crucial means of lessening the gradually mounting pressure on groundwater tables.

Dr Asad Zaman mentioned that the gradually declining water resources are posing a serious threat to the lives and livelihoods of the marginalised and other low-income families in the water-stressed area.

The existing adverse impact of climate change is putting local people into trouble since the hand-driven tube wells are not functioning here in the dry season, he added.

So, in this regard, surface water can be the best way to lessen pressure on underground water.

Sharing his expertise to BSS, Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan said there are around 10,000 ponds, 200 canals, and ten other big-sized waterholes in the barind areas consisting of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, and Naogaon districts.

"We have enormous scope for enriching the surface water resources through proper management of the water bodies," Prof Chowdhury, who teaches at the Department of Geology and Mining at Rajshahi University, added.