Govt plans dredging river Gorai to boost water flow in winter
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
The government will soon carry out 'capital dredging' to the riverbed of the Gorai, a key river in southwestern region of the country, to increase the flow of salinity-free water that is essential for agricultural production in winter, reports UNB.
The government will also take steps to update the Agricultural Policy for the welfare of farmers and to protect their interests.
Agriculture Minister Motia Chowdhury spoke of the government plans while talking to the reporters after a meeting with US Ambassador James F Moriarty at her office Tuesday.
Motia said that during the fag end of the previous Awami League government "we began dredging the river Gorai in 2001, which helped to increase Boro production in the region as in the 'heartlands of Boro' like Kishoreganj, Jamalpur and Sherpur."
Unfortunately, she added, the dredging was not continued during the last seven years.
The agriculture minister said they would seek cooperation from foreign countries, especially from the United States, in dredging the riverbed of the Gorai as soon as possible. "I've discussed the issue with the US Ambassador. We want the US government to extend their helping hand in this regard."
She informed that they are sincerely thinking about some sort of "water structure" so that optimum utilisation of limited water can be ensured in the winter season.
Asked when the dredging work would start, Motia said, "We want to start it as soon as possible." She also added, "You know we've many rivers but these are gradually drying up simply for lack of maintenance. We want to keep our rivers alive at any cost."
Replying to another question, she said fertilisers are being distributed in a disciplined manner in each and every corner of the country.
"The distribution system was made unnecessarily complex in the past. We are trying to simplify it and have decided to stop the 'slip-system' of distribution so that the farmers can avoid unnecessary complexities in procuring fertiliser."
The agriculture minister said they were trying to adjust with the situation as only few days have passed after the formation of the new government. "Already the situation is much better than any time in the past. "
Replying to a query, she said the government would ensure power supply for irrigation although power shortage is prevailing across the country. "No development was seen over the last seven years in the power and gas sectors, which is the key cause of the current crisis."
Motia said they would also overcome this problem, which they once faced in 1996. "But it will take time."
The government will also take steps to update the Agricultural Policy for the welfare of farmers and to protect their interests.
Agriculture Minister Motia Chowdhury spoke of the government plans while talking to the reporters after a meeting with US Ambassador James F Moriarty at her office Tuesday.
Motia said that during the fag end of the previous Awami League government "we began dredging the river Gorai in 2001, which helped to increase Boro production in the region as in the 'heartlands of Boro' like Kishoreganj, Jamalpur and Sherpur."
Unfortunately, she added, the dredging was not continued during the last seven years.
The agriculture minister said they would seek cooperation from foreign countries, especially from the United States, in dredging the riverbed of the Gorai as soon as possible. "I've discussed the issue with the US Ambassador. We want the US government to extend their helping hand in this regard."
She informed that they are sincerely thinking about some sort of "water structure" so that optimum utilisation of limited water can be ensured in the winter season.
Asked when the dredging work would start, Motia said, "We want to start it as soon as possible." She also added, "You know we've many rivers but these are gradually drying up simply for lack of maintenance. We want to keep our rivers alive at any cost."
Replying to another question, she said fertilisers are being distributed in a disciplined manner in each and every corner of the country.
"The distribution system was made unnecessarily complex in the past. We are trying to simplify it and have decided to stop the 'slip-system' of distribution so that the farmers can avoid unnecessary complexities in procuring fertiliser."
The agriculture minister said they were trying to adjust with the situation as only few days have passed after the formation of the new government. "Already the situation is much better than any time in the past. "
Replying to a query, she said the government would ensure power supply for irrigation although power shortage is prevailing across the country. "No development was seen over the last seven years in the power and gas sectors, which is the key cause of the current crisis."
Motia said they would also overcome this problem, which they once faced in 1996. "But it will take time."