RAJSHAHI, Mar 25: People of the district are suffering from water crisis because of decrease in water flow in the Padma and the Mahananda rivers.
The irrigation system in the vast Barind tract has also been threatened because of the water crisis.
Riverbank residents said about 60 per cent area of the rivers become pasture in dry season while 40 per cent of water flow is divided into three parts. This situation of the rivers exists from November to July.
Because of the low water level in the Padma and the Mahananda rivers since 2003, the environment and the biodiversity of the region are being damaged. The nautical transportation is also being interrupted due to the decrease in the navigability of the rivers. Fishermen are becoming unemployed due to the loss of various fishes every year.
River expert Aminul Islam said, "Due to adverse effects of climate change, the water of the Padma decreases in the dry season, and in the rainy season, the riversides erode with the increase in water flow."
Godagari Upazila Agriculture Officer Shafiqul Islam said, "Groundwater is used to irrigate about 80 per cent lands in the Barind tract. But, due to the decrease of water flow in the rivers, the water level abnormally falls down, and the deep tube-wells cannot fetch required water for use in irrigation at that time. As a result, the production of Boro and various crops falls."
Local people said due to the decrease in water level, they cannot get sufficient water from the tube-wells during the dry season. As a result, they have to drink pond water and are affected with various water-borne diseases.
Godagari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jahid Newaz said deep tube-wells are being set up in the region to ensure the supply of safe water.
Godagari Citizen Committee President Professor Shanto Kumar Majumder said, "The Padma and the Mahananda rivers should be dredged to increase water flow. After citizen committee's appeal, an expert team of Water Development Board gave a report to the Ministry of Water Resources, but no steps have been taken since then."
