Inter Basin Water Transfer Link Project of India

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Int'l confce on river-linking plan in December

Staff Correspondent
The Daily Observer
Sunday, April 04, 2004
 

Experts opined that the controversial river linking by India is not only threat to eco-system of Bangladesh, but is a security threat to the Himalayan region.

India has been able to muster sympathy from international forum by arguing that they would only divert monsoon floodwater from the Ganges-Brahmaputra basin, store water for use during lean period, which otherwise cause miseries in the floodplains of Bangladesh.

The eight professional bodies on Saturday announced of holding an international conference on "Regional Cooperation on Transboundary Rivers: Impact of the Indian River-linking Project" with an objective to study the impact of the controversial mega-project. The conference will be held on December 17-19, 2004 at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) campus in the capital.

Speaking at a press briefing at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), Dr. Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, chairman of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) said apart from the socio-economic, environmental impact, the political consequences of the river-linking project would be determined.

Others who attended where Dr Qazi Kholiquzamman Ahmad (Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad), Engr. Quamrul Islam Siddique (Bangladesh Water Partnership), Dr. Mahmudur Rahman (Bangladesh Environment Network), Engr. ANM Akhter Hossain (Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh), Engr. Nurul Huda (IEB), Dr Feroze Ahmed (BUET), Dr M.A. Matin (BAPA).

Dr Jamilur Reza Chowdhury said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in their election manifesto have declared in their agenda 10 to implement the mega river-linking project in war footing.

The former adviser of Caretaker Government, Dr Jamilur Reza mentioned during the last Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) in September in New Delhi, the Indian side refused to add in the agenda the crucial river-linking project for discussion.

Again during the Bangladesh-India Foreign Minister's meeting, India agreed to share information with Bangladesh on the controversial project. "There is growing mistrust and dwindling confidence between the two countries on the controversial project," he remarked.

Engr. Akhter Hossain, president of IEB said the response of the government was poor and slow in reacting. The government should inform the public regarding the controversial project to bring a national outcry of all section. Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia requested the experts to submit an assessment report, he said.

To undertake such mega-project is not impossible for India, unlike most pessimists predict. IEB President said India has the expertise, technological feats, political and financial funds to undertake the project, which would take five years to implement.

The cost has been estimated that the US $ 115 billion, but sceptic Indians argue that the project would cost five times more and would instead jeopardise the ecological, social, political fabric of the country, as well as its Himalayan riparian, which includes Bangladesh.

Responding to a query, IEB President argued that the impact would cause the Ganges-Brahmaputra basin to lose its navigability, fisheries, decrease irrigated lands, and increase salinity, apart from environment and social impacts.

The conference organisers said they would ensure participation of concerned citizens, politicians, professionals and environmentalists. An exhibition by a hundred organisations would be simultaneously held to sensitise on the issue.

Source: The Daily Observer

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