Govt ‘starts’ study on eco impact of Ganges Barrage

The government has initiated a new survey of the proposed Ganges Barrage to study its impact on the environment and bio-diversity after construction, water resources minister Anisul Islam Mahmud said yesterday. “If the barrage is constructed at Pangsha in Kushtia, it would prevent the intrusion of salinity in the south-western region, including the Sundarbans. Besides, it would help in improving the ecosystem as well as the socio-economic situation in the region,” he noted.
The minister was speaking at a seminar on “Save the river, save the country and save the people” at the Jatiya Press Club in the city.
Mahmud said the barrage’s reservoir would be 164 km long, out of which 82 km would lie on the Indian side. “This is why Bangladesh would need India’s cooperation to construct the barrage,” he added.
According to the minister, regional cooperation was necessary for the management of three river basins shared with the neighbouring country—the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Teesta.
He said the barrage would cater to the people’s demand to prevent river erosion. “People cannot take river erosion easily because they lose their homes and hearths to the menace,” he added.
The government had taken the issue seriously and was going for projects without tampering the environment, he observed.
State minister for water resources, Nazrul Islam, said, “Rivers are an integral part of Bangladesh’s defence. So, we need to manage the rivers on a priority basis.”
Shipping minister Shajahan Khan said his ministry has taken up projects to restore river routes. “There is no alternative to dredging to keep the rivers free of siltation for navigation round the year,” he added.
He said a section of unscrupulous people

were involved in encroachment, pollution and grabbing of river banks.
Shajahan Khan also said around 20,000 km of river routes have disappeared in the country. “No previous government had taken any initiative to safeguard the country’s rivers from encroachment. However, the Awami League-led government has given importance to rivers and taken up various projects including dredging. Rivers have lives and they should be taken care of properly,” he added.
According to the minister, awareness should be created among the people to save the country’s rivers from pollution and encroachment.
Water resources secretary Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan, BIWTA acting chairman Bhola Nath Dey, BIWTA additional chief engineer (dredging) Rakibul Islam Talukder, BWDB additional chief engineers Mahfuzur Rahman and AKM Momtaz Uddin also spoke on the occasion.

 

Govt starts study on eco impact of Ganges Barrage

The government has initiated a new survey of the proposed Ganges Barrage to study its impact on the environment and bio-diversity after construction, water resources minister Anisul Islam Mahmud said yesterday. If the barrage is constructed at Pangsha in Kushtia, it would prevent the intrusion of salinity in the south-western region, including the Sundarbans. Besides, it would help in improving the ecosystem as well as the socio-economic situation in the region, he noted. The minister was speaking at a seminar on Save the river, save the country and save the people at the Jatiya Press Club in the city. Mahmud said the barrages reservoir would be 164 km long, out of which 82 km would lie on the Indian side. This is why Bangladesh would need Indias cooperation to construct the barrage, he added. According to the minister, regional cooperation was necessary for the management of three river basins shared with the neighbouring countrythe Ganges, Brahmaputra and Teesta. He said the barrage would cater to the peoples demand to prevent river erosion. People cannot take river erosion easily because they lose their homes and hearths to the menace, he added. The government had taken the issue seriously and was going for projects without tampering the environment, he observed. State minister for water resources, Nazrul Islam, said, Rivers are an integral part of Bangladeshs defence. So, we need to manage the rivers on a priority basis. Shipping minister Shajahan Khan said his ministry has taken up projects to restore river routes. There is no alternative to dredging to keep the rivers free of siltation for navigation round the year, he added. He said a section of unscrupulous people were involved in encroachment, pollution and grabbing of river banks. Shajahan Khan also said around 20,000 km of river routes have disappeared in the country. No previous government had taken any initiative to safeguard the countrys rivers from encroachment. However, the Awami League-led government has given importance to rivers and taken up various projects including dredging. Rivers have lives and they should be taken care of properly, he added. According to the minister, awareness should be created among the people to save the countrys rivers from pollution and encroachment. Water resources secretary Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan, BIWTA acting chairman Bhola Nath Dey, BIWTA additional chief engineer (dredging) Rakibul Islam Talukder, BWDB additional chief engineers Mahfuzur Rahman and AKM Momtaz Uddin also spoke on the occasion.