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Accent on surface water use

Speakers observe at regional consultation of the National Policy Review Forum 2003

sTAFF CORREsPONDENT, Rajshahi
Speakers at a dialogue here yesterday stressed immediate implementation of the proposed North Rajshahi Irrigation Project (NRIP) to use surface water to reduce the massive use of underground water by the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) in Rajshahi region.
They also criticised the government patronisation of the Barind project which, they claimed, was affecting the region's environment and also exploiting the marginal
farmers. They called for an impartial evaluation of the project.
The speakers also noted that the government recently allocated Tk 750 crore to expand the Barind project while the Tk 400 crore NRIP could not be launched for fund crisis.
These views were expressed at the second session of the regional consultation of the National Policy Review Forum 2003 on 'Environment Policy' held at the Parjatan Motel auditorium.
Former vice-chancellor of
Rajshahi University (RU) Dr Saidur Rahman Khan was chief guest at the dialogue, co-organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), The Daily Star and the Prothom Alo.
Experts from the RU, farmers' leaders of the Barind region and NGO workers spoke at the dialogue, chaired by Prof. Mushfik Ahmed of geology and mining department at the RU.
Prof. AK Enamul Haque of economics department at the North
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South University presented a draft taskforce report on environment policy at the session. Convenor of Rajshahi Nagorik Committee Golam Arif Tipu was present as special guest.
Quoting experts' reports, President of Rajshahi Protection Movement Parishad Zamat Khan said use of surface water has become a must to check desertification of Rajshahi region. He claimed that the Barind project virtually aimed at exploiting marginal farmers using political influence.
"Brother of an influential minister in the BNP government has been controlling the project, which is affecting the Barind people through abuse of water," he said.
Workers Party leader Fazle Hossain Badsha said, " The Barind project has become a curse for people of the region in two ways -first, their socio-economic condition has deteriorated sharply as they are to pay higher prices for ground water and second, massive use of groundwater has severely affected the ecology."
Farmers' leader from Tanore upazila Lutfar Rahman said too much use of arsenic- and iron-contaminated groundwater and pesticides is destroying fertility of land in the Barind region.
Golam Sabbir, a teacher at the RU, said the Barind project does not follow the principles of sustainable development and it affects environment.
Prof. Shamsul Alam of the Bangladesh Institute of Technology, Chittagong, suggested legal action against people destroying environment of the region.
Prof. Enamul Haque said the government is yet to take effective steps to combat arsenic contamination although water from about 27 per cent of tube-wells in the country is arsenic-contaminated and around 2.8 crore people suffer from arsenic-related diseases.
Prof. Hasan Imam of the RU emphasised formulating a fresh policy after extensive research on Barind land.
Prof. Saidur Rahman Khan stressed strict enforcement of the enviornmental laws. He also called for a united movement against the Barind project as it failed to benefit people of the region. Editor of the Prothom Alo Motiur Rahman thanked the participants at the discussion.