-Collage Photo

SANGSAD BHABAN, July 7, 2026 (BSS) - Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee today told Parliament that the government is implementing plans to increase the use of alternative water sources in a bid to reduce dependence on groundwater.

Replying to a starred question from treasury bench member Khairul Kabir Khokon (Narsingdi-1), he said initiatives have been undertaken to identify water-stressed areas, carry out aquifer mapping, and determine groundwater reserves, water quality and safe extraction limits using modern technologies.

With Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, in the chair, the minister said the government is also implementing a nationwide programme to excavate and re-excavate 20,000 kilometres of rivers, canals and other water bodies. "Once these initiatives are fully implemented, dependence on groundwater extraction will be reduced significantly," he added.

Anee informed the House that due to excessive groundwater extraction and the continuous decline in groundwater levels, the Executive Committee of the National Water Resources Council (ECNWRC), under Sections 17 and 19 of the Bangladesh Water Act, 2013, declared 153 unions out of 215 unions in 25 upazilas of Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Rajshahi districts as water-stressed areas through a gazette notification issued on January 22, 2026.

Of the declared water-stressed areas, 47 unions fall under the "very high" category, 40 under the "high" category and 66 under the "moderate" category, he said.

He said the relevant agencies have been instructed to adopt short, medium and long-term plans to regulate groundwater extraction.
 
The measures include restricting the installation of new tube wells except for drinking water purposes, limiting the use of existing tube wells to drinking water supply, gradually phasing out the use of groundwater for irrigation within the next two years through crop diversification, and keeping natural water bodies open for public use.

The minister expressed hope that the government's ongoing initiatives would substantially reduce reliance on groundwater and ensure the sustainable management of the country's water resources.