Switzerland Ambassador to Bangladesh Rene Holenstain yesterday visited drought-prone Barind areas in Rajshahi district to see the activities of Integrated

Water Resource Management (IWRM) project.While visiting Babudying village under Godagari upazila, he exchanged views with the community people related to

their availability of drinking water supply.

The ambassador also witnessed a surface water based irrigation scheme at Baliaghata village under the same

upazila where around 800 farmers are being benefited directly from the scheme.

He was informed that over 2.80 lakh drought hit-families, including 80,000 ethnic minorities, have been brought under safe drinking water through commissioning of 390 submersible pumps in the high Barind tract.

The pumps along with 20,000 feet pipelines were commissioned with intervention of the Integrated Water Resource Management project.