Preliminary work has begun on the Teesta master plan, meant to tackle recurring floods and river erosion in northern Bangladesh, Dainik Bangla reports. Before the main work, the Ministry of Water Resources has sent the Planning Commission a proposal for a feasibility study costing about Tk 23 crore to establish the plan's technical and economic case. If approved, consultants will be hired through international competitive tender.
The proposed plan gives priority to protecting 110 km of riverbank and building or repairing 67 groynes (spurs), dredging 110 km of the river to restore navigability and natural flow, building 224 km of flood-control embankment with a paved road on top, and reclaiming about 170 square kilometres of riverside land through river training for agriculture and industry.
Engineer Md Ruhul Amin, director general of the Bangladesh Water Development Board, said the integrated plan would not only protect the river but also add a new dimension to regional connectivity and irrigation. He expects the embankment to serve both as natural protection and as an economic corridor for river-bound areas that are cut off in the monsoon.
River expert Mohammad Ejaz said dredging can succeed if the river's sediment and behaviour are taken into account. Professor Dr Md Ataur Rahman of BUET's water resources engineering department said the project would bring long-term benefits if upstream and downstream flows and structural safety are secured.
Water resources secretary Dr A K M Shahabuddin said the study would test the technical and economic benefits of each component, including a barrage, river training, dredging, flood control and water conservation. Planning secretary S M Shakil Akhter said the proposal is being examined as a priority and, once approved, the next stage would proceed with help from international experts.
Photo: Ibrahim Husain Meraj / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Source: Dainik Bangla
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