The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rajshahi

The mighty Padma River and its tributaries are drying up due to unilateral withdrawal of water from its upstream points.

Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) sources said the river is not getting its due share of waters according to the 30-year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty between Bangladesh and India.

The sources said, with a rapid fall in the stream inflow the water level is gradually inching towards its lowest mark as the dry season approaches. A large number of big shoals have emerged in the riverbed and its mainstream has been split into numerous tiny and small confluences.

Concerned experts said the entire northern and southern regions of the country, particularly the vast tract of Barind area, are facing ecological imbalance due to the adverse impact of the gradual drying up of the river that is also detrimental to aquatic vegetation.

Talking to BSS yesterday, BWDB officials said the water level has been declining in a greater proportion this season in comparison with the last couple of years. In addition to the existing numerous ones, more big shoals might be emerged within the next few weeks in the riverbed.

Various types of crops especially Irri-boro paddy and maize are being cultivated on the riverbed. The small rivers and tributaries of the Padma are also drying up due to the withdrawal of water at Farakka Barrage.

BWDB officials informed that the water level began falling in the middle of September last and it was 17.80 metre in that month. The water level dropped to 15.74 metre on September 26 and to 15.39 metre and 13.49 on October 15 and 31 last respectively.

After analysing the decreasing trend, the experts expressed their apprehension that if the current trend continues the water level will drop to 10 meter by the end of this month. The declining condition will continue until the monsoon begins in June next that will lead the entire northern and southern regions to a more disastrous situation.

Meanwhile, the ground water table has been lowering in the vast tract of Barind area with the reduction of water level in the Padma river resulting in non-functioning of most of the hand-driven tubewells.

The sources said the then Indian government had experimentally commissioned the Farakka Barrage in 1975 for discharging 40,000-cusec Ganges water to Bhagirathy-Hoogly River and since then the Ganges water is being withdrawn unilaterally. As a result, Bangladesh has been facing a dangerous environmental degradation.