KUSHITA. June 5 : Scanty rainfall every year and sharp fall in the underground water level will bring a tremendous change in the climate of North-Western region of the country.

It Is alleged that the change in the climate of North Western region has been brought by the Indian government by acquisition of water of the Ganges and other rivers through Farakka. At the same time deforestation in this re glon has aggravated the situs lion.

it is reported that the Padma and the Ganges rivers In Bangladesh have been silted up and lost its depth during the last two decades. As a result. the North Western region has been turning into a desert The underground water level in the area of the Padma and its tributaries have decreased alarmingly while the rainfall in •1992 has been reduced by 900 mm compared to 1991

The acquisition of Water by the Indian government Is causing dryness and less rain- fall in the North Western re gion

Authorities should take proper steps to solve the prob lem otherwise the situation will go out of control, the ex pens opined

On the other hand, due to Influence of the Farakka Barrage water In the Padma including its 12 tributaries. 16 beels and canals and 14.000 ponds have been dried up and the irrigation problems has been prevailing in 21 North Western districts

It is learnt that generally the irrigation crisis exists In the dry season but this year the irrigation crisis has been observed in the winter season.

According to the reliable sources greater Kushtia greater Jessore. part of Fari-dpur. Pabna. SirajganJ Natore. Naogaon. ChapalnawabganJ Joypurhat districts are worst affected Most of the tube wells in northern areas have become Inoperative.

There are 6500 deep tube wells in Barendra area com prising 25 thanas Of thefn about 2000 deep and 7000 shallow tubewells have gone out of order and about 3000 are not operating due to decrease in the underground wa ter level in different places of the Bareqdra area

Similarly for want of water fn the river Ganges .GK project has been closed down during this first Kharif season

About 3 lakh acres of land in North and North Western region have been deprived of Irrigation facilities as 5000 power pumps have turned un serviceable for want of required ground water level

Several organisations for environmental development and preservation are carrying out various activities to protect the influence of Farakka Barrage in North Bengal and North Western region