Govt embarks on small-scale schemes of irrigation to utilise surface water

Md Mazadul Hoque The government has undertaken a number of irrigation programmes in the country with a view to reducing pressure on ground water and ensuring the best possible use of surface water. Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), belonging to the ministry of agriculture, will implement the small-scale irrigation programmes taken up by the government. "We have embarked on a good number of programmes mainly for bringing fallow land under crop production, which would accelerate food yield in the country", a high official at BADC said. The official said that a programme for canal re-digging with a length 20-kilometre in Chittagong district at a cost of Tk 13.4 million has been undertaken and the programme would help expedite irrigation facilities in a vast area. A programme in Cox's Bazar district at a cost of Tk 0.6 million has been taken up under which six deep tube-wells would be installed, the official said. With the programme in place, a vast area of fallow land would be brought under irrigation facilities, he said. The official said a large area in Obhoynagar and Keshabpur upazillas of Jessore district has long been inundated. It prompted the authorities to undertake a programme at a cost of Tk 23.4 million for reclamation of the submerged land and increasing crop production in the area. The programme includes re-digging a 16-kilometre canal and a culvert construction, he said adding that 80 per cent work has already been completed. The official said a programme has been taken up in Pabna district at a cost of Tk 20.73 million for proper use of surface water in the area. In Pabna district, a 19-kilometre canal re-digging, 10 power pump schemes and a two-kilometre embankment building would be carried out, with an aim to double food production, the official said. He added that a programme for reducing inundation of Gopalganj and Fencuganj upazillas under Sylhet district at a cost of Tk 8.2 million has been undertaken, under which 30,000 saplings would be planted and a six- kilometre-long canal would be re-excavated. For development of 'char' (shoal) areas and increasing crop production in the coastal area of Noakhali district, a programme at a cost of Tk 6.7 million has been undertaken. Under it, a 10-kilometre canal would be re-excavated, the official said. At a cost of Tk 7.25 million a small-scale irrigation programme has been undertaken in Kurigram district, which would help boost agricultural production in the area bringing fallow lands under irrigation, the official said. Moreover, a programme in Gaibanda district also for 'char' development has been waiting for go-ahead. It would require a cost of Tk 6.18 million with which two to three sluice gates would be built, the official said.