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30 rivers in danger, 17 already dead

About thirty rivers are in danger due to construction of dams in the upper riparian country and withdrawal of water.

In the meantime, 17 rivers are already dead and seven more rivers are on way to disappearance.

Discussants told a seminar "Ujane Pani Prottahar: Bangladesher Jonno Durjog" organised by the New York-based 'International Farakka Committee'. The seminar will also continue tomorrow.

LGRD and co-operative minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan was the chief guest while Awami presidium member and former water resources minister Abdur Razzak and Goutam Chakrabarti, state minister for water resources, attended the seminar as special guests.

Rashaed Khan Menon, president of Workers' party of Bangladesh, Dilip Barua, general secretary of Samyabadi Dal, Dr Jasimmuddin Ahmed, president of Farakka Committee Bangladesh, Dr Khalilujjaman and Md. Saleh took part in the discussion chaired by Atiqur Rahman Salu, president of the committeee.

Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said India began constructing the Farakka dam during the Pakistani era. The government of Pakistan obstructed the project initially and later stopped it as the movement for autonomy started. In 1974, the Farakka Dam began its operation on an experimental basis, taking advantage of the indifference of the government.

Water crisis in Bangladesh is created in a planned way. Bangladesh signed agreements twice on the distribution of waters of the Ganges with no result. Without informing Bangladesh, India is building dams unilaterally. But Bnagladesh must be informed even if there is gain for Bangladesh due to the dam.

He said India is the biggest neighbour of Bangladesh. Though everything is alterable, neighbour cannot be changed. We are bound to live with our neighbour. We must resolve our problems through national consensus.

So, we should build opinion at home and abroad. In this respect national consensus is essential. Though leaders have conflicts, people are united against such steps. The prevailing unity has to be consolidated further, he said.

AL leader Abdur Razzak said the previous government took up a project to hold waters of rivers and rains in order to solve the water crisis. If the project is materialised, the crisis can be overcome along with increase in production of electricity. But the present government stopped the project.

Crisis that originated due to the unilateral withdrawal of waters by India cannot be solved by Bangladesh without the help of other countries. Bangladesh should talk to India, Nepal, China and Myanmar in this regard.

This calls for undertaking initiative at the international level. India has built embankments on 35 rivers out of 53 that flow through Bangladesh. Teesta has dried up as India has built up the Tistamukh Dam involving Tk 1400 crore, speakers said.

India withdraws water even in the rainy season due to the weakness in the agreement. India has water that could provide 44 billion cubic metres of water. She is using only 35 percent of its water for agriculture. If India could use water from its own sources properly, she need not withdraw water.

Participants accused India of building different dams in violation of international law.

(Source: BDNEWS)