Mohananda River will get back its navigability: experts

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RAJSHAHI, Feb 15, 2019 (BSS)- Upon successful implementation of the
ongoing project, the Mohananda river will get back its navigability side by
side with previous position.

Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has started implementing a Taka
159.97-crore scheme of dredging and construction of a rubber dam across
Mohananda River in Chapainawabganj district.

Shahidul Islam, Executive Engineer of BWDB, told BSS that the ‘Rubber Dam
Construction and River Dredging in Mohananda’ scheme will help bringing back
navigability in more than 65-kilometer river area. More than 7,500 hectares
of land could be brought under irrigation.

“We will bring 36-kilometer river area under dredging,” Engineer Islam said
adding that the project will be implemented in three separate packages.

The Rehairchar site near Chapainawabganj town, around a half-kilometer
downstream of the Beershrestha Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Bridge, has been
set for construction of a 353-meter rubber dam under the mega project.

Engineer Shahiddul Islam says the ever largest rubber dam scheme is going to
be implemented across the river in the country. Thirty-six areas, 10
kilometers in upstream and 26 kilometers in downstream, of the dam will be
brought under dredging.

Upon successful implementation of the scheme, more than 7,500 hectares of
land will be brought under irrigation in surrounding areas.

In this regard, he said, the retained water could easily be used for
supplementary irrigation of Aman paddy, wheat, pulse, oil seeds and
vegetables cultivation along with pisciculture and duck farming.

It will also create employment opportunities for the day labourers and
marginal farmers in agriculture and living and livelihood condition of the
farmers’ community is likely to the improved through crop production.

There will be a revolutionary change in the region’s agriculture sector
upon successful implementation of the project.

Jahangir Alam Khan, assistant coordinator of Integrated Water Resource
Management Project of DASCOH Foundation, said the vast Barind tract is facing
an acute waterless condition due to various natural and manmade reasons like
Farakka Barrage, reduction of annual rainfall and climate change.

As a result, the issue of cropping depletion is gradually being surfaced.
Under this adverse situation, demand for rubber dam construction has been
mounted for the best uses of river water for irrigation purposes.