No more deep tubewell in Barind tract

RAJSHAHI, Aug 28 (BSS): In principle, Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), a state-owned organisation, has taken a decision of checking any more installation of deep tubewell (DTW) to control the lowering of underground water table.
The decision is being enforced strictly in the vast Barind tract comprising 25 upazilas of Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj districts.
Dr Akram Hossain Chowdhury, newly appointed Chairman of BMDA, told the news agency that the issue of indiscriminate use of underground water for irrigation has become a grave concern in the region. Recharge of underground water table might have been hampered due to lack of sufficient rainfall besides the adverse impact of climate change.
Instead of installing any more deep tubewells, step has been taken to use more surface water through re-excavation of the derelict pond and canals.
At present, BMDA is lifting water from the river Padma through 12 low lift pumps (LLP) to irrigate around 1,000 hectares of land in Sarmangla area under Godagari upazila. Similarly, the organisation plans to install 275 more LLPs at different areas of the region for the best use of the river water in the irrigation purpose.
Besides, motivation among the farmers has started so that they cultivate many more less-irrigated crops like wheat, potato and maize instead of Irri-boro. The BMDA also sent notices to its branches in the three districts asking them to ensure irrigation of no more than 100 bighas of land with every deep tubewell.
The farmers have started farming Rabi crops creating hopes of saving underground water in the dried area.
Agriculturists and farmers have become optimistic over reducing the pressure on groundwater for irrigation purposes as a result of bringing diversity in the cropping system under the deep tubewell command areas.
A deep tubewell can hardly irrigate around 180 bigha of Irri-boro lands in the dry season. But in many cases, the irrigation system faces problems due to motorised fault caused by abnormal lowering of groundwater table. The adverse situation creates negative impact on crop yield affecting the farmers economically.