Irrigation crisis hits Boro farming in Rangpur

Irrigation on 60,500 hectares of Boro land under the Teesta Barrage project area in Rangpur is facing setback in the current season due to abnormal fall of water in Teesta River. Sources at the Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB) said water flow in Teesta was recorded 600 cusec at the Barrage point while it was supposed to remain 5,000 cusec during the dry season. Failing to get irrigation water, Boro growers staged agitation last week as they are fully dependent on the Barrage water for cultivation of Boro paddy in the dry season. Jabbar Mia, a grower of Khalea Gongipur in Gangachara upazila, said Boro seeds are being damaged for want of water as the feeder canal has dried up. Mahbubur Rahman, executive engineer of the Teesta irrigation project, said they are now rationing irrigation water so that all the growers get water for cultivation. He, however, declined to make any comment when asked how they would manage with only 600 cusec of water when at least 3,500 cusec would be required for irrigation. The 615-meter Teesta Barrage Project was built at Dowani in Hatibandha Upazila of Lalmonirhat district to bring 0.59 milion hectares under irrigation facilities by turn in 24 Upazilas of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Dinajpur, Joypurhat and Bogra districts. The first phase work of the project was completed in 2003, according to UNB.