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River-linking to spell disaster for both Bangladesh, India

Experts tell int'l conference as Dhaka fears mass migration

Staff Correspondent
The Indian River-Linking Project (IRLP) will result in great human and ecological disasters for both downstream Bangladesh and upstream India, speakers at an international conference agreed yesterday.
A demand was also raised to put the controversial IRLP on the agenda of the upcoming Saarc summit, as the conference opener Water Resources Minister Hafiz Uddin Ahmed expressed the fear that "the project might trigger a mass-migration destroying the social fabrics of both the countries."
The project will affect the country's agricultural and industrial productivity, and other sectors like forestry and fishery, and at the same time will create a rehabilitation problem by displacing more than a million people, speakers said at the inaugural session of the conference at the city's Osmani Memorial Hall.
They also blamed the Indian government for not revealing anything officially about the mega project.
Hundreds of participants from home and abroad including India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, United States, United Kingdom and Sweden are attending the conference on 'Regional Co-operation on Trans-boundary Rivers: Impact of the Indian River-Linking Project'.
Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, Bangladesh Environment Network, Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, Dhaka University, and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology are the joint organisers of the three-day event.
Bangladesh Water Partnership, Bangladesh Geographical Society, Bangladesh Geological Society, Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad, Bangladesh National Geographic Association and Asiatic Society of Bangladesh are also associated with the conference arrangements.
A number of Indian experts attending the conference admitted that the project would cause a great disaster for Bangladesh. Indian water expert Rameshwami Iyer told a plenary session, if their government implements the project, lower riparian countries like Bangladesh and Bhutan would be affected.
Speaking as the chief guest at the opening session, Hafiz Uddin proposed that all co-riparian countries including Nepal, India, China and Bhutan sit together to find out a proper solution to the issue.
"I have talked with the Nepalese government and they are willing to multilateral talks. It now depends on India. But they are not willing to discuss this issue," the minister said, adding, "Only by discussion with a spirit of co-operation can we arrive at a solution."
Hafiz said, if implemented, the project would bring utter disaster not only to Bangladesh but also to some Indian states. "Peoples of Assam and West Bengal have also raised their voice against it," he pointed out.
Special guest of the session former finance and planning minister AMA Muhit said the government should include the river-linking issue in the agenda of the upcoming 13th Summit of the South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation (Saarc).
He said, "There have been many instances of out-of-the-agenda topics being discussed in the Saarc. So, it [IRLP issue] can be discussed at the summit."
"We have to ensure that ecological disaster is not spawned by super engineering dreams," Muhit added.
Eminent economist Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said Bangladesh does not officially know the purposes and status of the river-linking project and, hence, what implications it may have on Bangladesh. But, earlier, both the governments of Bangladesh and India agreed to work together in any major intervention related to trans-boundary rivers, ensuring equity, fairness and no harm to either party, he pointed out.
"The project will have serious negative implications for Bangladesh, as it will reduce the flow of water into it and also affect its ecology, bio-diversity and navigation," described Water Partnership, Bangladesh Chairman Quamrul Islam Siddique.
Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed also spoke at the session, chaired by Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury. Mohammed Abdul Matin presented the vote of thanks.