An early flood in the Haor (wetland) areas in Sunamganj is unpredictable.
As this happens after three to four years awareness must be adopted as five percent of the total rice production comes from there.
State minister for water resources JahidFaruk said this while speaking at a workshop titled ‘Sustainable Flood Control and Water Resources Management in Haor Area’ held at PaniBhaban in the capital on Wednesday.
Water Development Board director general Fazlur Rashid chaired the workshop.
He said, “Our first and foremost plan is now to save the haor areas from early floods. Assam, Meghalaya torrential rain caused such floods there.This has been a great threat for our crops and cultivation. From the Haor area we get 9 lakh tonnes of rice which is five percent of the total production.”
“We have built an embankment there which has saved our crops this time. Only a few hectares of crops were damaged due to the flood. In the coming days, we will undertake a project in phases to excavate channels so that water coming from hilly areas directly goes to big reservoirs or rivers without creating water logging,” he added.
As constructing embankments are costlier, we must ensure sustainable embankments in Haor areas. Due to climate change besides crops, people's lives sometimes also face unwanted uncertainties. We need to relocate them. As the present government is putting much emphasis on increasing food production, if we can ensure sustainable development in Haor areas, our food production will also increase for sure, he added further.
Deputy Minister for Water Resources AKM EnamulHoqueShameem was present as the guest of honor. He said, “River erosion has been reduced to one third in the last 14 years. But yet there is no permanent project in Haor areas. To save lives, livelihoods and biodiversity it's high time to take sustainable solutions for haors.”
He urged the experts to find out the most sustainable solution for haors. When the country is witnessing massive development, at the same time, soil erosion, floods in Haor areas are not acceptable, he added further.
Water resources ministry senior secretary Kabir Bin Anwar said, in the last three days, there have been 2000 millimeters of rain recorded. In this context, we must bring change in the drainage system. Haor is a wide area for a vast number of people's livelihood. There is no coordination among us for its development even though a good number of projects are continuing. To save biodiversity around two lakhs saplings have been planted and many are continuing to save life and nature.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina is cordial to implement floating schools and hospitals in the haor areas. But yet there is no sign of such development. But as the country is marching towards development, the Haor area will not be left behind, added the senior secretary.
BRAC University's advisor for the centre for climate change and environmental research Dr. AinunNishant said, we have to deeply think about water management due to the climate change, and steps need to be taken immediately on how to stop or prevent early floods and save crops.
“Due to climate change, it was not possible to plant rice on time in many parts of the country, especially in Barishal, Rangpur. We need to be aware of our ecosystem, how we can keep our production and life safe in adverse environments,” he added.
