PABNA, Mar 2: Tlle North Bengal Paper Mills of Paksey in Pabna district, the only mill of its kind in the whole of Ra-jshahi division, has been faced with an acute crisis of 'sweet' water due to appearance of vast shoals in the river Padma.

The mill authorities, in view of the above problem, have been compelled to take up dredging of the river Padma and create deep-pond for sinking deep tubewells for pumping out water and transit the same to the factory of the mill for meeting their needs. They would keep the mill running and avoid its temporary closure, the authority said.

An official of the mill, on condition of anonymity, told The Daily Star Saturday that dredging on a massive scale would involve an extra expenditure to the tune of about Taka one crore. The authorities, however, had the idea that no dredging would be required this year in view of the increased availability of water in the Padma following the signing of the water treaty agreement between the governments of Bangladesh and India, the source said.

The sources added that the above hope was frustrating as (he level of water did not rise following the agreement and its implementation two months back. The flow of water however increased according to the terms of the agreement.

The source further added that as the river Padma was flowing through, the Bhera-mara side and not through Paksey side the North Bengal Paper Mill would find no end of its sufferings created every year for want of water during the lean season. The official stated that due to the above reason, the extra loss to the tune of Tk one crore would have to be borne annually, it is being apprehended.

Meanwhile, due to the increased flow of water in the Padma, the problem of plying of ferries between Paksey and Bheramara did not face any disruption this year unlike the previous years. But as the channel of the river is narrow

and runs through the Bheramara side, a big road has been temporarily built in the river bed of Padma near the Hardinge Bridge of Paksey. Through this road, the road communication services between the northern and southern districts of the country were being maintained.

The government, however, is understandably have decided to make the Hardinge Bridge, an essentially railway bridge, suitable for traffic movement also through the introduction of decking system.

Once implemented at an estimated cost of about Tk 25 crores, thick sheets of steel would be laid on the both sides of the railway track, the Hardinge Bridge would be turned into both, a railway and road way bridge making road communication between the northern and southern zones much easier, it is gathered from an official source.