Water resource management
Tk 260.14cr projects underway
BSS, Rajshahi
Implementation of various development schemes is progressing fast for a proper water resource management in the countrys northwest region.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) is implementing the projects involving around Tk 2260.14 crore in different districts under Rajshahi division at present.
Mukhlesur Rahman, executive engineer of BWDB, told the news agency that necessary steps have been taken to protect Rajshahi metropolis from erosion by the mighty Padma River.
The work on 4.905-kilometer river embankment protection and three groin/spars rehabilitation is being executed under the Tk 268.17-crore project that will protect more than five kilometers area from river erosion.
The bank of the Padma River has got a new look with implementation of development scheme. Upon successful completion of the protection, the entire area will be turned into an amusement park. Dredging of six-kilometer river area will start as soon as possible.
A Tk 159.97-crore mega project has been adopted for constructing a rubber dam across Mohananda River in Chapainawabganj district for bringing back its navigability.
In addition to construction of the dam, 36.05-kilometer river area will be brought under capital dredging. More than 7,500 hectares of land could be brought under irrigation upon successful implementation of the project titled Rubber Dam Construction and River Dredging in Mohananda.
A project of alternative embankment construction including the right bank protection of the Jamuna River from Kurnibari to Chandanbaisha under Sariakandi upazila in Bogura district is being implemented successfully.
The work on 31.70 hectares land acquisition and 5.9-kilometer river bank protection is progressing fast under the Tk 333.38-crore project.
Eighty-five percent works were completed till July last and the rest is expected to end by June next.
Muhammad Ali, chief engineer of BWDB, said 30 percent on a project titled Protection of Khudbandi, Singrabari and Shubhadanga areas under Kazipur Upazila in Sirajganj district from erosion by Jamuna River was completed.
Under the Tk 465.46-crore project, acquisition of 13.5 hectares of land, protection of four-kilometer river bank, restoration of 40-kilometer embankment and rehabilitation of two spars are progressing.
Apart from this, 18-kilometer river area will be brought under dredging. Another project titled Development of reclaimed land from the river Jamuna and protection of the proposed Economic Zone in Sirajganj district has been adopted.
There are provisions of protection of 3.20-kilometer river bank, dumping of 4.68-square-kilometer area reclaimed by river dredging, construction of 3.20-kilometer earth embankment and a 50-meter drainage outlet-cum-bridge under the Tk 509.94-crore project.
A project of river connection excavation with Gajnar Beel, development of irrigation facilities and fish culture in Sujanagar upazila under Pabna district is being implemented with an estimated cost of around Tk 439.27 crore.
All the scheduled works like 186.10 hectares of land acquisition, excavation of 90.18-kilometer branch canal and 47.73-kilometer Badai River, construction of Talimnagar Pump Station, 17 structures and two bridges and dredging of 300-meter Jamuna River are scheduled to complete by June next.
