The New Nation - Internet Edition

Kushtia Correspondent

Experts at the special edition of BBC Bangladesh Sanglap titled 'Farakka and Environment' here in the district yesterday suggested the government to take immediate steps to construct an alternative Ganges Barrage in the river Gorai to protect country's southwestern region, its environment and livelihoods.

They also observed that poverty level is being increased in the region day by day as agricultural production and fisheries has been badly affected due to bad effect of Farakka Barrage in Indian Territory.

In addition to these, unemployment, criminal specially outlawed activities and human trafficking has increased and people have begun migration to other areas in the country due to bad effect of the barrage, observed the speakers as well as the audiences.

"We need to construct an alternative barrage in the Gorai immediately to protect the area, its people," said former member of Joint River Commission (JRC) Touhidul Anwar Khan.

The barrage should be constructed for uniform water distribution in different rivers across the southwestern region also, said the JRC former member. He alleged that barrages in almost all rivers towards Bangladesh have been constructed in the Indian Territory to divert water.

For which country's rivers have been getting dry gradually, he opined fearing that the future generation would fall into great danger if people of all walks of life do not raise their voice for rational water's demand.

Editor of New Nation Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Coordinator of Padma-Gorai Area Water Partnership Dr Anwarul Karim and former Jatiya Party lawmaker Badruddoza Gama also took part in the sanglap as panelists.

BBC's guest presenter Gawhar Nayeem Wahra, convenor of Disaster Forum of Bangladesh moderated the Sanglap held on the Renwick Embankment. BBC Bangla Service in conjunction with the BBC World Service Trust organised the event.

Responding to a query, Dr Karim said if the alternative barrage is built the prevailing problem might be resolved.

Touhidul Anwar said India is not following water-sharing treaty, which resulted severe water crisis in the country. He observed that if the country would have got due water from India, there could be possible to produce at least four to five million different kinds of crops in the areas.

Mostafa Kamal said due to water crisis for over years its level has gone very deep and for this there is severe arsenic problems in the drinkable water in the southwestern areas.

Dr Karim said salinity has been increased in the rivers across the region that is badly affecting Sundarbans, agriculture, fisheries and livelihoods.

Gama said number of poor farmers at the areas have been increased day by day as agricultural production has been badly affected due to water crisis.

He said pressure would have to be mounted on India to press home the demand for proper sharing of water.

And for this the government must overcome its weakness in its foreign policy, said former lawmaker adding, "To press home our demand we will have to raise the issue in different international forum including the United Nation."