Optimum aquifer recharge is a must in the Hard Barind area: Speakers

RAJSHAHI, Nov 29 (BSS): Optimum aquifer recharge in the Hard Barind area is very important to protect its overall public health alongside the existing agricultural ecosystem through managing a groundwater basin efficiently and effectively, scientists and researchers at a workshop here said today.

They opined that the drought-prone are is turning into extreme drought zone owing to scarcity of water due to the adverse impact of climate change and other environmental degradations.

NGO Forum for Public Health organized the learning sharing workshop titled "Managed Aquifer Recharge in Drought-prone High Barind Tract" held at conference hall of Deputy Commissioner in Rajshahi today.

NGO Forum has installed aquifer recharge wells in Nachole Upazila of Chapainawabgonj district for the first time in the region aims at recharging the groundwater table with rainwater for keeping the groundwater level static, said SMA Rashid, Executive Director of NGO Forum for Public Health in his welcome address.

The sharing workshop was organized with the main thrust of creating a national synergy about the promotion of the technology. Commissioner of Rajshahi division Helaluddin Ahmed addressed the programme as chief guest while Deputy Commissioner Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury and Superintending Engineer of BMDA Dr Abul Kasem spoke as special guests with Sakhawat Hossain, Superintending Engineer of DPHE, in the chair.

During his keynote presentation, Prof Dr Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan, Pro-vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University, said the overall experiences of the first ever promoted technology may prove that it to be a positive option to serve as a context specific water technology for the drought prone region.

He said the Government of Bangladesh should have a plan to promote aquifer recharge for developing irrigation facilities by optimum utilization of available ground and surface water. It is believed that the groundwater table is lowering rapidly and the whole region is in an acute state of deforestation posing a serious threat to the public health and farming system.