Poor navigability jeopardises northern waterways

Drastic fall in water levels of the rivers, including the Jamuna and its tributaries, leads to the crisis

FE Team | Published: January 13, 2024 21:39:10

OUR CORRESPONDENT
BOGURA, Jan 13: With the beginning of the dry season, movement of water vessels, especially trawlers and boats, is being hampered seriously at places in the northern region due to drastic fall in water levels of different rivers, including the Jamuna and its tributaries.
Consequently, industries, trade, commerce, biodiversity and agriculture sectors in the region are now under threat and existence of the native species of fish and aquatic vegetation is in jeopardy.
Besides, farmers in the region are apprehensive of a more severe water crisis hitting irrigation of their land during the IRRI-Boro season.
Meanwhile, many business establishments and jetties located on the banks of different rivers have been closed putting the people of the localities in trouble.
According to sources, has taken a severe turn at different places in the region as the water level of most
The rivers whose water levels have fallen leading to the navigability crisis include the Jamuna, the Brahmaputra, the Bangal, the Korotoa, the Boral, the Hurasagor, Fuljhor, the Ichhamati, the Atrai, the Teesta and the Ghaghot.
Their water levels have fallen drastically causing emergence of huge shoals (Char) at places and massive change in the river routes.
In this situation, the people, especially who live in different remote Char areas, have been facing severe problems in respect of communication.
They cannot move as per their need due to the problems related to water vessel movement in the rivers.
Students suffer while going to their educational institutions. Elderly people and patients cannot reach doctors or hospitals in time while farmers and traders cannot take their goods to markets.
Though, a few horse carts, battery-run auto-rickshaws and motorbikes ply different Chars areas, poor people cannot afford them. Sources at the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said cultivation of the hybrid varieties of paddy started in the country from the 1960s. Since then, use of shallow machines and power pumps has risen.
Due to the drastic fall in water levels, a large number of rivers, canals and wetlands in the region have already dried up and crisis centring irrigation has deepened.
Consequently, the level of underground water has gone down while the proportion of arsenic has increased at places posing serious health hazards.
A survey conducted by a non-government organisation found that there are over 1,561 waterbodies including greater Chalan Beel in the region. But most of them are facing an existence threat.
On the other hand, Baghabari-Aricha route is one of the important river routes in the country. Various goods including fertilisers, fuel and food grains are supplied to different places of 16 districts in the region through the route.
But movement of fertiliser and fuel-laden vessels is being hampered due to navigability crisis in the Jamuna River.
BIWTA sources said at least 10 to 13 feet depth is needed for smooth movement of water vessels in a river. But the depth has gone below seven to eight feet at different places for want of dredging.
Besides, emergence of shoals and sub-merged shoals at different points of the rivers is obstructing vessel movement.
Traders are being forced to carry their goods like fertilisers in small boats after unloading them from large cargo-vessels that takes extra cost and time.
Seeking anonymity, a leaseholder of Shariakandi jetty in Bogura district, said, "Such situation has been created due to lack of dredging in the rivers. Now, water of the river has dried up and a large number of shoals have emerged at different points. Water vessels, especially trawlers and boats, can't carry goods due to change in the river channels."
Altaf Hossain, a trader of Baghabari ghat, said, "We are facing trouble while carrying fertilisers. Sometime, we are being forced to unload fertiliser sacks in the mid river with small boats and later those are being carried to the jetty."
Meanwhile, a few cargo vessels loaded with fertilisers have remained stuck in the Jamuna River near Penchakola area of Pabna district, being unable to cross shoals.
Therefore proper dredging in the channel is the only option.
However, masters of different cargo-vessels have been asked to avoid risky points.If necessary steps are not taken right now, the situation may worsen in near future.
Experts said the desertification process of India is one of the crucial reasons behind the drying up of the rivers and canals in the northern Bangladesh.
Though discussion on multi-pronged plans over water sharing between India and Bangladesh has been going on for long, no significant response has yet been received from the Indian government.
Dwellers of the northern region have urged the government to take necessary steps about water sharing with India as soon as possible.
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