Call to reduce excessive pressure on groundwater

RAJSHAHI: Indiscriminate extraction of groundwater for irrigation and industrial purposes has created an alarming situation in Barind area, said Dr Akram Hossain Chowdhury, reports BSS.
“This is the high time of exploring alternative ways to lessen the excessive pressure on groundwater,” added Dr Chowdhury, Chairman of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA).
He urged the policy makers to take immediate effective measures to address the adverse impact. He said,more water reservoirs in the drought-prone Barind area could be effective means of lessening the pressure on groundwater table.
He said water reservoir is very much important for aquifer recharge adding that adequate measures should be taken for enriching the surface water resources mainly for irrigation purposes.
DASCOH Foundation under its ‘Integrated Water Resource Management Project (IWRMP)’ conducted a survey unearthing the fact that the area has become the most vulnerable to safe drinking water.
“Water level was in 99 feet below in the ground in 2015 but now it was found in around 112 feet below,” said Prof Dr Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan, Consultant of the survey.
In the region, 70 deep tubewells are irrigating around 2,000 hectares of croplands for long 20 years last. One of those at Buddopur site becomes non-functional in 2015 and 25 others remained in less-functioning condition at present, Prof Chowdhury.
In 2015, three municipality and 15 Unions in Barind area comprising Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabgonj districts were identified as risk due to gradually lowering of groundwater.
Prof Sarwar Jahan of Department of Geology and Mining in Rajshahi University said Badhair, a high Barind area, is more vulnerable. Time has come to impose ban on furthermore extraction of groundwater.

Call to reduce excessive pressure on groundwater

RAJSHAHI: Indiscriminate extraction of groundwater for irrigation and industrial purposes has created an alarming situation in Barind area, said Dr Akram Hossain Chowdhury, reports BSS. This is the high time of exploring alternative ways to lessen the excessive pressure on groundwater, added Dr Chowdhury, Chairman of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA). He urged the policy makers to take immediate effective measures to address the adverse impact. He said,more water reservoirs in the drought-prone Barind area could be effective means of lessening the pressure on groundwater table. He said water reservoir is very much important for aquifer recharge adding that adequate measures should be taken for enriching the surface water resources mainly for irrigation purposes. DASCOH Foundation under its Integrated Water Resource Management Project (IWRMP) conducted a survey unearthing the fact that the area has become the most vulnerable to safe drinking water. Water level was in 99 feet below in the ground in 2015 but now it was found in around 112 feet below, said Prof Dr Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan, Consultant of the survey. In the region, 70 deep tubewells are irrigating around 2,000 hectares of croplands for long 20 years last. One of those at Buddopur site becomes non-functional in 2015 and 25 others remained in less-functioning condition at present, Prof Chowdhury. In 2015, three municipality and 15 Unions in Barind area comprising Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabgonj districts were identified as risk due to gradually lowering of groundwater. Prof Sarwar Jahan of Department of Geology and Mining in Rajshahi University said Badhair, a high Barind area, is more vulnerable. Time has come to impose ban on furthermore extraction of groundwater.