The water flow of Padma and Jamua rivers in Bangladesh is likely to fall by one-third if India implements its national river-linking project. The drop in the water flow will have an adverse impact on navigability, biodiversity and environment. Environment and water experts expressed the concern at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity yesterday. They demanded cancellation of the Indian river-linking project, which would certainly reduce flow of river waters and bring environmental disasters in Bangladesh and nine states of India. Bangladesh Poribesh Bachao Andolon (BAPA) and Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) organised the press conference on Implementation of first connection (Ken-Betwa) of river-linking project and its impact on Bangladesh. In his keynote paper, Prof Dr Mohammad Khalequzzaman, geologist and a teacher of Lock Haven University, USA, said under the river-linking project, India is planning to divert water through 30 linking points from major rivers, including the Ganges and Brahmaputra.
He said the river-linking project would have a long-time affects on its ecology, environment in the deltaic region formed by two major rivers of the world, the Ganges and Brahmaputra.
“India has begun implementation of the project without taking the possible impact of the project on Bangladesh into consideration. The Bangladesh government also keeps mum over the issue,” he said. The river-linking project includes 14 Himalayan rivers and 16 deltaic rivers.
BAPA general secretary Dr MA Motin called upon the Indian government to stop the project. The Bangladesh government must take a strong position in this regard, he added.
Dr Shahidul Islam, a teacher of geology department of Dhaka University, termed the river-linking project harmful both economically and environmentally.
“India is going to implement the project in violation of international law and without any scientific survey. Bangladesh should register protest against the implementation of the project,” he said.
BAPA leaders Zakir Hossain and Mihir Biswas were among others present on the occasion.
The Indian plan to divert large quantities of water from major rivers, including the Ganges and Brahmaputra, will threaten the livelihood of more than 100 million people downstream in Bangladesh.
Courtesy of The Independent
