Ecosystem-based approaches to save Barind Tract stressed

FE Team | Published: March 17, 2022 22:00:15

RAJSHAHI, Mar 17 (BSS): Ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation in drought-prone Barind Tract are crucial to protect its major farming system from the adverse impact of climate change.
Climate change has already started posing a serious threat to the vital sectors like agriculture, fisheries, forestry, livestock, health and sanitation in the high Barind tract. So, there is no alternative to adoption of effective measures to address the odd situation.
Emphasis should be given on integrated water resource management, besides creating a mass awareness about judicious use of both surface and underground water for reducing the pressure on groundwater table in the dry area.
The observation came at a consultation meeting on EbA project Implementation in drought-prone Barind Tract here yesterday.
Ecosystem-based Approaches (EbA) to Adaptation in the Drought-prone Barind Tract project under the Department of Environment (DoE) organised the consultation at the conference hall of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) in Rajshahi city.
Former secretary Dr Zahurul Karim and DoE Director Dr Sohrab Hossain addressed the meeting as resource persons, while BMDA Executive Director Engineer Abdur Rashid was in the chair.
BMDA Additional Chief Engineer Dr Abul Kashem, Superintending Engineers Shamsul Huda and Abdul Latif and Project Director Rafiqul Islam also spoke.
The meeting was told that optimum aquifer recharge in the Barind tract is very important to protect its existing agricultural ecosystem through managing a groundwater basin efficiently and effectively.
The drought-prone area is turning into an extreme drought zone owing to scarcity of water due to the adverse impact of climate change and other environmental degradations.
Dr Zahurul Karim said promotion of managed aquifer recharge can be the vital means of halting furthermore declining of ground water level in the high Barind area.
He said time has come to create awareness to halt the alarming decline of the groundwater layer. Aquifer recharge activities should be promoted at household level side by side with various institutions and industries artificially.
Abdur Rashid said, "The BMDA has re-excavated 3,3257 ponds, 2063-kilometer canals and 572 dug wells through implementation of various projects in order to promote surface water-based irrigation till June last".
"We have a plan of elevating the surface water-based irrigation to 30 per cent from the existing ten per cent by 2030 in order to lessen the gradually mounting pressure on underground water," Engineer Rashid said.
Around 715 more derelict ponds and 10 other big closed water bodies are being brought under re-excavation aimed at making those suitable for using to both irrigation and household purposes in the region.
Upon successful implementation by December in 2023, the project will create scope of providing irrigation to 3,058 hectares of farming fields for yielding around 18,348 tonnes of additional crops yearly.