Barind tracts face dry times

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Saturday, 04 February 2012

Author / Source : MATIUR RAHMAN SHUVO

RAJSHAHI, Feb 3: The Barind region is going to face desertification due to impacts of climate change felt more keenly recently than before, according to environment experts. Moreover, ground water level is falling and rivers of the region are dying because of the impacts.
As a consequence, biodiversity and ecology of the region are also at stake.
The factor that contributes to the climate change is India’s unilateral withdrawal of water from the river Ganges through the Farakka Barrage.
The Ganges water flows mainly through the river Padma, the main tributary of the Ganges.
India constructed the Farakka Barrage in 1975 in order to divert 40,000 cfs (cubic foot per second) of the Ganges water into the Bhagirati-Hoogly river with the ostensible purpose of flushing the accumulated silts from the bed of the river and thereby restoring navigability at the Kolkata port.
The unilateral withdrawal of the Ganges water during the low flow months has caused both long-term and short-term effects in Bangladesh.
The experts apprehend that the whole northern region would turn into a desert in future unless India stops unilateral withdrawal of the Ganges water.
As a long term impact of the barrage, the subterranean water level has already gone down to 80 to 90 feet.
The experts opine that the desertification process is being due to India’s unilateral withdrawal of water from the Padma upstream.
The result is the changes in the weather and, by extension, in the climate manifesting frequent floods, drought and reduction in agricultural products as well as in aquatic population.
Consequently, the flora and fauna of the region will face the threat of extinction.
Needless to say, the critically endangered species, endemic to the area, will be undoubtedly extinct.
Besides, the global climate change is contributing to the already deteriorating problem of river erosion and natural calamities, which are being aggravated by India’s Farakka Barrage, the experts comment.
As a result, hundreds of thousands of people living in the erosion and disaster- prone areas are falling victim to the cruelties of nature.
Flood and drought are hitting the region repeatedly because of swift changes in the climate.
Little rain or even no rain in some areas has become now a common feature in the rainy season.
This is symptomatic of the beginning of desertification. Heavy rain in the dry season testifies to the negative impacts of global climate change affecting the region adversely.
Unilateral withdrawal of water from the Ganges, upstream the river Padma, is causing it to dry up with the loss of current of water.
All the rivers and canals originating from or tributaries falling into the Padma are quickly disappearing radically changing the landscape of Bangladesh. On the other, excessive use of subterranean water for irrigation is another reason contributing considerably to the desertification process of the region.
It may be pointed out that the Barind region covering Kushtia, Natore, Bogra, Siarajganj and Rajshahi districts which are touched and fed by the Padma and its tributaries, is rapidly going through desertification process.
During his a recent visit to the area, this correspondent found plants and vegetables are being cultivated in many points of the Padma river basin where there is hardly any flow of water but sandy beach.
The Chalan Beel, the largest water body of Bangladesh, has also lost its glorious past as it has shrunk to one-third of its total area in last several years.
And consequently, quantities of various species of fish of the water bodies are decreasing at an unanticipated rate.
Professor Sarwar Jahan of the Institute of Environment Science of Rajshahi University (RU) told the Independent that the environment of the Barind region bears the brunt of effects of the Farakka barrage for which the ecological imbalance and biodiversity of the region are in dreadful conditions.
Professor Abu Hanif Sheikh of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies of RU said  “The ground water depletion and the dying of the rivers have an adverse impact on the environment of the Barind region. There should be a concern regarding desertification in the region and effective initiatives should also be taken for this.”