Teesta Irrigation Project deprives farmers of water supply
Despite the existence of irrigation canals under the Teesta Irrigation Project, many farmers cultivating high-lying lands along both banks of the main canal remain deprived of its water supply due to the higher elevation of their farmland.
As a result, they have to install electric or diesel-powered pumps at their own expense to extract groundwater for irrigation, significantly increasing their production costs.
Farmers allege that although their agricultural lands are situated close to the irrigation infrastructure, they cannot enjoy its full benefits because of the difference in elevation.
They have called for the installation of solar-powered pumps at strategic locations to lift water from the canals and supply it to these high-lying areas.
Executive Engineer Md. Monirul Islam of the Teesta Mechanical Division of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Dalia, Nilphamari, said the Teesta Irrigation Project covers areas extending from Dalia No. 1 Bazar in Dimla upazila through Dundibari to several upazilas of Rangpur and Dinajpur districts.
“If solar-powered pumps can be installed to lift water from the irrigation canals and supply it to high-lying agricultural lands where water cannot reach naturally, the project’s irrigation coverage could be expanded further,” he said.
Providing irrigation facilities to agricultural lands is one of the principal objectives of the Teesta Irrigation Project. However, due to variations in land elevation, canal water cannot reach many adjoining high-lying fields through gravity flow.
Consequently, farmers in these areas have to rely on groundwater extraction to meet their irrigation needs.
Local farmers said they are compelled to use electric or diesel-powered pumps to ensure adequate water for their crops. The expenses for electricity, diesel, pump operation and maintenance are adding to their agricultural production costs.
Farmers Md. Sohel Rana, Binoy Kumar Roy, Sofia Rahman and Sahajul Islam of Bishmuri village in Ramnagar Union; Jamia Rahman and Sri Madhusudan Roy of Chander Hat; and Sri Apon Chandra Roy and Swapan Kumar Roy of Khutamara Union are among those demanding solar-powered irrigation pumps for the high-lying agricultural areas.
Greater use of solar energy in agricultural irrigation could reduce farmers’ dependence on diesel-powered pumps. It could also help lower irrigation expenses and reduce reliance on conventional electricity.
According to relevant stakeholders, identifying high-lying agricultural lands under the Teesta Irrigation Project and installing solar-powered pumps there in phases could bring additional farmland under irrigation.
However, a comprehensive technical assessment is needed to determine the extent of the high-lying areas, irrigation water requirements, appropriate pump capacity, installation costs and potential benefits.
Farmers believe that installing pumps alone will not provide a sustainable solution.
A comprehensive plan is required to identify areas beyond the reach of canal water, determine the appropriate capacity of pumps and establish an effective water distribution system to ensure that farmers receive irrigation facilities.
They also stressed the importance of ensuring proper operation, maintenance and management of the solar-powered pumping facilities after installation. Without an effective management system, the infrastructure may fail to deliver the expected benefits.
Farmers believe that a BWDB-led survey to identify high-lying lands and suitable locations for solar-powered pumps could pave the way for addressing the long-standing irrigation problem.
The issue has highlighted the need for alternative irrigation arrangements alongside the existing canal infrastructure under the Teesta Irrigation Project.
Farmers now hope that proper surveys, technical assessments, adequate funding and effective management will lead to the installation of solar-powered pumps, expanding irrigation coverage and reducing agricultural production costs.
