Rajshahi: Due to water shortages in the dry season, cultivation on thousands of hectares of land in the Rajshahi region is disrupted. Farmers incur losses every year. This time, the Padma Barrage is bringing hope to agriculture. If water is conserved, several lakh people in the Rajshahi region will benefit. The Padma Barrage is set to be built in Pangsha, Rajbari, to protect groundwater levels. Through it, the massive volume of monsoon water can be stored. Officials from the Agriculture Department and Water Development Board say the barrage will radically change the fate of farmers.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this integrated water management will restore navigability to the tributaries of the Padma. The Sundarbans can be protected by preventing salinity. In addition, the water supply for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will also be uninterrupted. The Water Development Board says this project is set to be a ‘game changer’ not just regionally but for the national economy as well. Rezaul Karim, Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board in Rajshahi, emphasized the transition from groundwater dependency to surface water usage for irrigation, highlighting the significance for the Rooppur Power Plant’s water needs.
Before the election, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had promised the Padma Barrage at a public meeting in Rajshahi. He stated that the barrage would address the agricultural and water problems of the region, benefiting the people of Rajshahi, Natore, and Chapai. Farmers in Rajshahi express optimism, noting that stable water levels in the Padma could alleviate current challenges in paddy cultivation. Abu Taher, a farmer from Borgachi village, emphasized the potential benefits for those farming on the chars, while Abdul Bashir from Kishorepur village highlighted the recurring issues faced during the Chaitra month due to water scarcity.
River researcher Mahbub Siddiqui noted the potential for maintaining higher water levels from Rajshahi to Chapainawabganj with the construction of the barrage. The stored water aims to maintain active flow in river routes during dry seasons, reducing water scarcity in the southwest and northwest regions. The Padma Barrage will enable storage of about 2,900 billion liters of water, reviving irrigation projects. Additionally, the structure holds provisions for hydropower generation, with an annual capacity of 113 megawatts. Plans include releasing a minimum of 570 cubic meters per second of water through the barrage during dry seasons, ensuring flow restoration to key river systems.