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Integrated Participatory Water Management Approach for Sustainable Development of a Coastal Polder

Md. Amirul Hossain
Executive Engineer
Planning-III, Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), 23/1 Motijheel CA (7th & 8th Floor), Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.

A.H.M. Kausher*
Chief Engineer
Hydrology, former Project Director, IPSWAM, BWDB, Motijheel CA , Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh. e-mail: kausherahm@yahoo.com

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Coastal polders of Bangladesh were implemented with the objective of promoting the productivity of land and water, and reducing poverty through water resources management (WRM), emphasizing structural interventions. Gradually new demands, both structural and non-structural, have been added on the system and thus WRM has fallen short of expectations. A study was conducted to investigate the problems and prospects of sustainable WRM in Polder 30 situated in the Southwest region of Bangladesh. The polder was selected considering the command area, livelihoods, land distribution and diversity of water management(WM) activities. “Bottom up” approach was followed with stakeholders’ participation in all stages i.e. identification, planning, rehabilitation, operation and maintenance with monitoring. Study method based on the local peoples’ expectations and velidation. Sustainable WRM could be achieved gradually in the polder through a combination of structural and non-structural measures. It involves handing over operation responsibility from central level (GoB agency) to the local level institutions and then maintenance responsibility is gradually be incorporated. The process need close monitoring, experimentation, discussion and interaction among the stakeholders. The planning study concluded that sustainable WRM could be operationalised in this polder, which essentially needs participatory and multidisciplinary planning for rehabilitation and institutional development.

Keywords: Water management, Polder project, Flood control, Irrigation

Location: Coastal area

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Commodity: Water management

Objectives:

The present study was conducted in Polder-30 during 2003-2004 with the objectives to develop participatory and sustainable WRM planning in an integrated way, and to develop a program outline for stakeholders' institution development and capacity building.

Methodology:

Polder-30, implemented in 1972-73 has been selected considering the command area, livelihood, land ownership and WM activities, for the preparation of a sustainable WM plan involving both structural and non-structural measures. This is one of the representative polders of the coastal delta and is located in the south-west hydrological region of Bangladesh (CZPo 2005). The project area is surrounded by the Kazibacha River in the east, Sholmari River in the north and Bhadra River in the west and south . It is roughly rectangular, with the north-south axis is two times longer than the east-west axis. Land level is generally flat, varied from 1.2 to 1.9 mPWD (meter Public Works Department - measurement system of bench marks related to elevation). It is situated in Batiaghata Upazilla of Khulna district, gross area of 7,725 ha & NCA 4,768ha (61.7% of the gross area), with population about 41,000. Monsoon drainage and supplementary irrigation during drought periods and post monsoon water retention are becoming important WM activities of the polder area. Fig.1 shows the channels, WM structures and roads (embankments contributed to road communication development) of Polder-30 and surrounding polders.

Methodology: Multidisciplinary study team covering the professionals in the field of agriculture, soil, economics, environment, fishery, forestry, water resources and sociology was formulated for the study. Bottom up approach was followed where stakeholders from agriculture, fishery and domestic uses (including women) were participated in the planning process. The team consulted 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 and collected information on prevailing WM conditions, problems and opportunities, agronomy, environment, socio-economy, conflicts related to WRM and institutional development in the area. Participatory rural appraisal technique was used for the survey as its proven ability to produce results quickly and reduce the risk of biasness.

Source of Information: 2nd International Conference on Water & Flood Management (ICWFM-2009), BUET, 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, and its establishment is not a one-time exercise. It needs experimentation and consultation at all levels, especially with the stakeholders. Responsibilities for O&M should be transferred from the Government agency (central level) to the local stakeholders for sustainable WM. It was evident from the study that the Polder-30 has high potential for the gradual transfer of O&M responsibilities. Sustainable WM would facilitate increased cropping intensity and fish production and is also needed to deal with environmental considerations. The system should be made ready to help endeavours towards sustainable WM. Construction of new infrastructure and minor replacement or maintenance of existing infrastructures is also needed for sustainable WM.

The process of interaction and discussion among the stakeholders, including government agencies (agriculture, local government, BWDB etc), needs to be institutionalized. Conflicts may gradually be resolved if the institutions are established. Conflicts may gradually be resolved if the institutions are established. Thus, sustainable WM would gradually be achieved in consistence with the pace of institutional development and capacity building. This has begun with the handing-over of operation & routine maintenance responsibility of structures. The handing over (WM responsibility) process thus could start on a small scale with operation, gradually incorporating the entire infrastructure. It was apprehended that handing over of operation responsibilities would not be a big problem, but it would be difficult in the case of maintenance responsibilities. There is therefore a need for experimentation, discussion and interaction among the stakeholders, including the implementing agency, to ensure sustainable WM in an integrated way; the process in fact is taking place in the polder 30.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings