Boro production suffers setback due to water shortage in Nilphamari

Our Correspondent

NILPHAMARI, Apr 1: Boro production in Teesta Irrigation Project's (TIP) targeted area is to suffer setback due to scanty and irregular water supply by TIP.

Water rationing has also been introduced to the Boro farmers by the concerned authorities of TIP due to huge shortage of water in the Teesta River.

The situation has been created because of blockade of water of Teesta River in Gajaldoba barrage of India, 65 kilometer north of TIP point.

Sources said, irrigation water is very badly needed at this stage of Boro season as the plants are growing rapidly. Water flow in Teesta River has come down to around 200 cusecs by now whereas minimum 2000 cusecs of water is needed to cover this year's target of providing water in the Boro farmland.

Due to non availability of water in Teesta river the authorities of TIP has been forced to downsize the irrigation target in only 28500 hectares of land in this year, whereas last year's target was in 75000 hectares of land. Sources added due to introduction of rationing, water is being provided alternately. Now most of the farmers of the target area at Nilphamari district are resorting to either deep tubewell (DTW) or shallow tube well (STW) to irrigate their farmland.     abumusa88@gmail.com