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Steps Towards Sustainable Water Management: Case Study of a Coastal Polder

Md. Amirul HOSSAIN
Sub-Divisional Engineer

A.H.M. KAUSHER
Director
Directorate of Planning-III, Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Dhaka

Esarul Haque
Department of Zoology, Premtali Degree College, Godagari–Rajshahi,Bangladesh

Ataur Rahman Khan
Department of Zoology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Sustainable Water Management (WM) is a major challenge for water sector projects in Bangladesh. Polder-43/2A implemented with objective of promoting productivity of land and water and reducing poverty through WM emphasizing structural interventions rather than management and social issues. After implementation, new demands added in the system and WM falls short of expectations. Study was conducted to investigate problems and prospects for the sustainable WM in the polder. Sustainable WM could be achieved in the Polder gradually in combination of structural and non-structural measures in coordination. It might begin with handing over of operation responsibility from central level to the local level and then maintenance responsibility would gradually be incorporated. The process need close monitoring, experimentation, discussion and interaction among the stakeholders. The planning study concluded that sustainable WM could be operationalised in this Polder, which essentially needs participatory and multidisciplinary planning for rehabilitation and institutionalization process.

Keywords: Water management, Polder project, Flood control, Drainage, People's participation

Location: University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Water management

Objectives:

The objectives of the study were:

Develop participatory and sustainable WM plan in integrated way.
Develop a programme outline for capacity building of stakeholders.

Methodology:

A multidisciplinary study team covering agriculture, economics, environment, fishery, forestry, soil, water resources and sociology was formulated for the study. Bottom up approach was followed in the study where stakeholders from agriculture, fishery and domestic uses (including women) participated in the planning process. The team met stakeholders including populace from various occupations, implementing agency and local administration. The team familiarized through small group discussions with the populace and agency persons involved in the project. The study team observed the opinion/ willingness of the stakeholders for the participation in WM plan and to hand-over the responsibility from the central level/implementing agency to the stakeholders. The study team observed and collected information on prevailing WM conditions, agronomy, environment, socio-economy, conflicts related to WM and institutional development within the project area. Participatory rural appraisal technique was used for the survey because of its proven ability to produce results quickly and reduce the risk of biasness.

Source of Information: International Conference on Water & Flood Management (ICWFM-2007) 12 - 14 March 2007, BUER, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Sustainable WM is a major challenge for the water sector of Bangladesh, which is not an one-time exercise. It needs experimentation and consultation in all level, specially with the stakeholders. Responsibilities of O&M should be transferred from the Government agency (central level) to the local stakeholders for sustainable WM. It is evident from the study that the Polder-43/2A has high potential where responsibilities of O&M could gradually be transferred. Sustainable WM would facilitate increase cropping intensity and fish production and also needed for environmental considerations. The system should be made ready to help endeavors towards sustainable WM. Construction of new infrastructures and minor replacement or maintenance of existing infrastructures is needed. Process of interaction and discussions among the stakeholders, including government agencies (agriculture, local government, BWDB etc), need to be institutionalized. Conflicts may gradually be resolved if the institutions are established. Therefore, sustainable WM should taking place gradually in consistence with the pace of institutional development. This has begun with the handing-over of operation responsibility of the main structures. Handing-over (WM responsibility) process thus could start with the smaller one and with operation, gradually incorporating all the infrastructures. It is apprehended that handing-over of operation responsibilities would not be a big problem, but it would be difficult for maintenance responsibility. There lies the need of experimentation, discussion and interaction among the stakeholders including the implementing agency concerned. This would ensure sustainable WM in integrated way.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings