RAJSHAHI, Dec 12, 2018 (BSS)-The Barind Multipurpose Development Authority
(BMDA) has implemented 19 projects involving around Taka 2,502.04 crore in
all 16 districts of Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions during the last 10 years.
According to the sources concerned, the implemented schemes contribute a
lot towards uplifting living and livelihood condition of people in the
country’s northwest region.
The region scored a significant progress in the crop production sector
following the expansion of irrigation facilities through operating deep-tube-
wells coupled with supplying water from re-excavated canals and ponds.
“We have brought around 47,000 hectares of croplands under supplementary
irrigation facilities through re-excavating 1,498-kilometer canals and 386
derelict ponds,” said Engineer Abdur Rashid, executive director of BMDA,
while talking to BSS here Tuesday.
The irrigated lands have yielded more than 35 lakh tonnes including 27 lakh
tonnes of additional crops especially food grain in the region especially the
vast Barind tract yearly.
Prepaid meter has been installed in 7,500 irrigation pumps. Rainwater
harvesting and conservation has been arranged after excavating 303 dug-wells.
A total of 106 irrigation pumps were made functional through 2120-kilowat
solar power in order to boosting production of less-water consuming crops
through promoting eco-friendly irrigation system.
Drinking water problem of more than 12.75 lakh remote people has been
minimized through construction and installation of 1212 water
infrastructures.
Yearly 45 lakh metric tonnes of food grains production has been ensured as
a result of providing irrigation to 4.96 lakh hectares of land successfully.
Seven pontoons have been commissioned in seven places of Padma and
Mohananda rivers for water conservation in canals and ponds.
In this way, irrigation is being provided to croplands in double-lifting
method through 460 low lift pumps. Irrigation activities are being conducted
through around 8,770-kilometersub-surface pipeline aims at ending misuse of
both agricultural lands and irrigation water.
Around 444-kilometer connecting roads were constructed aiming at creating
scopes of marketing agricultural products produced by the farmers and fair
price of those.
More than 75,000 farmers get training and motivation on proper use of
irrigation water, resisting misuse of power, judicious use of irrigation
water and modern farming.
Various works like electrification of 6974 deep-tube-wells, construction of
7200-kilometer power distribution line, 698 cross-dams and a 65-meter rubber
dam, telemeter installation in 400 irrigation pumps and reactivation and
renovation of 2877 other non-functional pumps were completed.
Around 34.90 lakh saplings of various fruit, timber and herbal trees and
40 lakh palm trees were planted in the command area to protect environment
and meet the growing demands for fruits and timber in the region.
Tree plantation activities are progressing successfully that will
ultimately help reduce carbon emission at a substantial level and that is
very important to face the adverse impact of climate change in the vast
Barind tract.
Implementation of the projects has yielded a significant success in crop
production and making an ecological balance. The projects are creating jobs
for the unemployed people and also ensuring various facilities along with an
environment-friendly climate in the region.
Engineer Rashid mentioned that yearly crop production has been enhanced to
45 lakh tonnes from 7.56 lakh tonnes, crop intensity to 226 percent from 117
percent while annual rainfall rose to 64 inches from 54.99 inches.
Meanwhile, implementation of four other projects is progressing fast at
present with involvement of around Taka 273.19 crore.