A white elephant sucking farmers' crores of taka

PABNA, Feb 22: The Pabna Irrigation and Rural Development (IRD) Project is becoming ineffective due to lack of maintenance, negligence and mismanagement; as a result, the cost of crop production is increasing, causing sizable financial losses to farmers.

Despite spending crores of taka on maintenance, the expected irrigation facilities are not being provided to the project beneficiaries. Consequently, the goals and objectives of the project are being undermined.

According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), in order to reduce the cost of agricultural production, two pumps were installed in Brisalika of Bera upazila at a cost of Tk3.84billion (Tk384 crore) in 1992, initiating functioning of the project.

After these two powerful pump stations were built on the banks of Hurasagar River and Jamuna River in Bera upazila for water extraction and drainage, a sufficient amount of water was lifted for a few days, but that trend did not continue for long.

Depending on these two pump stations, numerous small and large irrigation and drainage canals were dug on a large scale and various infrastructures including flood control dams, sluice gates, culverts were constructed.

A 42.5-kilometre-long main irrigation canal, 19 minor canal, 47 branches and more than 400 small irrigation canals were dug to irrigate on 18,000 hectares of land in the project area.

However, due to lack of regular renovation over time, most of the canals did not get touch of water properly.

Many of the canals have become filled and have disappeared. The opportunists are occupying these canals and cultivating fish in some places.Thousands of farmers dependent on irrigation canals are in dire straits due to this. Local farmers said that farmers have to pay Tk180 per bigha to the BWDB all year round for the irrigation project water.

However, the Bangladesh Water Development Board authorities have not yet released water to the secondary and branch irrigation canals in the current Rabi season.

As a result, farmers have to pay at least Tk5,000 per bigha for irrigation through deep and shallow tube-wells only in Boro fields.

An official of Bera BWDB, who did not want to be named, told the FE that the Pabna Irrigation and Rural Development Project has now become a white elephant project.

At the beginning of the project, about 5,000 hectares of land were irrigated in Bera and Santhia upazilas. Although the target was to be achieved through phased excavation, the authorities are now unable to supply water to even 1,5000 hectares of land. This year, no water has been released yet.

However, crores of taka are being spent on maintenance. Farmers demand that the higher authorities pay due attention to this issue.

He also said that the plan was to increase the irrigation area year after year to fulfill the target of 18,000 hectares. But instead of that, the irrigated land area has been decreasing. Due to neglect and mismanagement, irrigation canals and their other infrastructures have weakened and collapsed in the past 32 years.

Small irrigation canals (tertiary canals) have become filled and ineffective. Some have merged with the soil and lost their existence.

Visiting some areas including Khakchhara, Mohanganj, Harirampur Pundaria, Shamukjani, Baya, Panishail, Beyailmari, Gagrakhali, Chechania, Boragram, Chakla, Damdama, NotunPenchakola and Machkhali in Santhia, it was seen that there is no water in the irrigation canals passing by the land. These do not look like irrigation canals.

In many places, the irrigation canals have merged with the soil. Some farmers including Abdul Mannan, Kowser Ali, Lutfar, Shahin, and Nasir Pramanik of Pundaria village told the FE that at one time they used to cultivate all kinds of crops with water from the irrigation canals. There was a nominal cost.

Now, due to lack of proper water, everyone is irrigating with machines. They are struggling to meet the expenses. Recently, visiting Damdama village in Bera upazila, it was seen that the D-5 irrigation canal is on the verge of disappearance after not receiving water for 15 years. Many people have built structures near the irrigation canals. Many places have been encroached upon.

When asked, Executive Engineer of Bera WDB Office, Jahidul Islam, told the FE that water supply to minor canals was stopped this season at the request of farmers due to the Rabi crop in the field.

A project proposal has already been given for the development and renovation of the infrastructure of the project.

motiarfe@gmail.com