FE Report (March 10, 2011)
Finance Minister AMA Muhith said Wednesday those countries which share the river basins with Bangladesh for drainage should contribute to dredging of its rivers, reports UNB.
Bangladesh drains a huge quantity of water from its neighbouring countries to the Bay of Bengal, he noted.
"The water of the rivers in India, China, Nepal and Bhutan flow through Bangladesh and it is their responsibility to make some contributions to support river-dredging operations in Bangladesh," he said while addressing a function on the present and future programmes of the Water Resources Ministry held at Hotel Sheraton.
The Economic Affairs to the Prime Minister, Adviser Dr. Mashiur Rahman, Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen and State Minister for Water Resources Alhaj Mahbubur Rahman Talukder, among others, addressed the function.
It was chaired by Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources Sheikh Mohammad Wahid Uz Zaman.
Director General of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) M Habibur Rahman delivered the address of welcome at the function.
The BWDB chief planning engineer, M Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan made the keynote presentation.
Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, the finance minister said that Bangladesh drains some 1.10 billion (110 crore) acre cubic feet of water annually of which only 100 million acre cubic feet of water are of Bangladesh origin.
"The water of five countries including that of Bangladesh flows through it to the Bay of Bengal. So the river dredging operations in Bangladesh for smooth flow of water is important and it is a prime geological responsibility," he added.
The finance minister also admitted that the Water Resources Ministry was not getting the allocation it deserved as because there were so many claimants -- several ministers -- to the budgetary resources and it became hard to meet all those demands.
He also observed that development of water resources would not be possible unless there was a river-basin based development. Only 57 rivers out of a total of 310 flowing through Bangladesh, originate in other countries.
Citing Bangladesh as one of those countries across the globe that face river water-related problems, Muhith said that the road-map for proper use of water resources is in the right direction and there is only a need for more emphasis in this area.
Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen said that there are weaknesses in the dredging and mechanical operations in water resources sector. Besides, efforts are going on to overcome the weaknesses through forming a separate agency, he added.
He also expressed the hope that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would be able to lay the foundation of the Ganges Barrage next year on completion of its third phase of survey.
The Economic Affairs Adviser to the PM, Dr. Mashiur Rahman, suggested for increasing tax on agricultural lands as farmers are now earning more income by cultivating two to three crops because of the facilities for irrigation.
"If the government gets some revenue from their additional income, the volume of investment will be enhanced," he added.
The tendency among some sections of the people about not reinvesting the benefit reaped out of public investment is "being tied up by the chain of mind and leg," he said. "If this chain is not broken, there will be no development."
Earlier in his presentation, M Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan showed that some additional 9.7 million tonnes of crops had been produced annually until June, 2010 because of the facilities created by the BWDB projects and about 0.12 million hectares of land had been reclaimed.
Besides, some 5.9 million hectares of land were brought under irrigation, being facilitated by the BWDB projects while 85 million people were benefited from dams and other infrastructures.
FE report adds: On the water management through river dredging and canal excavation, Mr Muhith said, "In the interest of our nation, we must preserve waters of rivers, canals and water bodies as we have good history of building embankments. Our water management system has so far been good. But the system needs to be modernised. We need upper riparian countries' help in improving water flowing system."
Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen laid emphasis on preserving surface water as it helps soil fertility that is very useful for food production.
"We have undertaken about 765 projects and hope that the Ganges Barrage Project will be launched in the next year that will boost agriculture production," he said.
Mahbubur Rahman Talukder said the canals in the southern parts of the country should be excavated for the preservation of the rivers waters that could help ensure balanced food production.
Dr Mashiur Rahman said the government has allocated funds for capital dredging of the rivers.
"The Joint Rivers Commission of Bangladesh and India is now active and discussion has also started on the water sharing of the Teesta river," he said.
The Adviser to the Prime Minister, HT Imam, said the fifteen-year plan of 'Capital Dredging and River Management System' taken by the Water Resources Ministry is laudable.
Bangladesh drains a huge quantity of water from its neighbouring countries to the Bay of Bengal, he noted.
"The water of the rivers in India, China, Nepal and Bhutan flow through Bangladesh and it is their responsibility to make some contributions to support river-dredging operations in Bangladesh," he said while addressing a function on the present and future programmes of the Water Resources Ministry held at Hotel Sheraton.
The Economic Affairs to the Prime Minister, Adviser Dr. Mashiur Rahman, Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen and State Minister for Water Resources Alhaj Mahbubur Rahman Talukder, among others, addressed the function.
It was chaired by Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources Sheikh Mohammad Wahid Uz Zaman.
Director General of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) M Habibur Rahman delivered the address of welcome at the function.
The BWDB chief planning engineer, M Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan made the keynote presentation.
Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, the finance minister said that Bangladesh drains some 1.10 billion (110 crore) acre cubic feet of water annually of which only 100 million acre cubic feet of water are of Bangladesh origin.
"The water of five countries including that of Bangladesh flows through it to the Bay of Bengal. So the river dredging operations in Bangladesh for smooth flow of water is important and it is a prime geological responsibility," he added.
The finance minister also admitted that the Water Resources Ministry was not getting the allocation it deserved as because there were so many claimants -- several ministers -- to the budgetary resources and it became hard to meet all those demands.
He also observed that development of water resources would not be possible unless there was a river-basin based development. Only 57 rivers out of a total of 310 flowing through Bangladesh, originate in other countries.
Citing Bangladesh as one of those countries across the globe that face river water-related problems, Muhith said that the road-map for proper use of water resources is in the right direction and there is only a need for more emphasis in this area.
Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen said that there are weaknesses in the dredging and mechanical operations in water resources sector. Besides, efforts are going on to overcome the weaknesses through forming a separate agency, he added.
He also expressed the hope that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would be able to lay the foundation of the Ganges Barrage next year on completion of its third phase of survey.
The Economic Affairs Adviser to the PM, Dr. Mashiur Rahman, suggested for increasing tax on agricultural lands as farmers are now earning more income by cultivating two to three crops because of the facilities for irrigation.
"If the government gets some revenue from their additional income, the volume of investment will be enhanced," he added.
The tendency among some sections of the people about not reinvesting the benefit reaped out of public investment is "being tied up by the chain of mind and leg," he said. "If this chain is not broken, there will be no development."
Earlier in his presentation, M Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan showed that some additional 9.7 million tonnes of crops had been produced annually until June, 2010 because of the facilities created by the BWDB projects and about 0.12 million hectares of land had been reclaimed.
Besides, some 5.9 million hectares of land were brought under irrigation, being facilitated by the BWDB projects while 85 million people were benefited from dams and other infrastructures.
FE report adds: On the water management through river dredging and canal excavation, Mr Muhith said, "In the interest of our nation, we must preserve waters of rivers, canals and water bodies as we have good history of building embankments. Our water management system has so far been good. But the system needs to be modernised. We need upper riparian countries' help in improving water flowing system."
Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen laid emphasis on preserving surface water as it helps soil fertility that is very useful for food production.
"We have undertaken about 765 projects and hope that the Ganges Barrage Project will be launched in the next year that will boost agriculture production," he said.
Mahbubur Rahman Talukder said the canals in the southern parts of the country should be excavated for the preservation of the rivers waters that could help ensure balanced food production.
Dr Mashiur Rahman said the government has allocated funds for capital dredging of the rivers.
"The Joint Rivers Commission of Bangladesh and India is now active and discussion has also started on the water sharing of the Teesta river," he said.
The Adviser to the Prime Minister, HT Imam, said the fifteen-year plan of 'Capital Dredging and River Management System' taken by the Water Resources Ministry is laudable.
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