core sector communique

Helping Bangladesh Effectively Manage its Water Resources

 

With more than 310 rivers flowing through the country, Bangladesh is well endowed with water resources. It is estimated that the country has 57 international rivers among which 54 are shared with India. The total discharge of these rivers represents a considerable 1,205 billion cubic meters passing yearly through the country.

Yet behind this abundance hides tremendous variability. Over 95% of all river flows are concentrated in just three rivers - the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. Moreover, most of these flows are concentrated within just 5 months of the year, with limited infrastructure in the country to store water for the long lean season. As a result, Bangladesh faces localized droughts during the dry-season, and as a low lying delta is also particularly vulnerable to recurrent floods brought on by the variable water resources.

The country’s growing population and increasing industrialization have led to deterioration of the water quality. The induced effects of climate change, such as rise in sea level and increased storm surges, have exacerbated the threats of inundation and saltwater intrusion on agricultural productivity and its impact on human health. The silting up of the Gorai River, the last remaining major channel in the South West, underscores the consequences of continued river sedimentation - with the fate of millions of people at stake due to a lack of fresh and reliable water resources. All these have raised the need for adequate water resource management in Bangladesh.

The Government of Bangladesh (GOB) with the assistance of the World Bank has launched an initiative to help ensure that, the management of rivers information nationwide and restoration of selected rivers is undertaken and efficiently carried out. A long-term plan for sustainability is being drawn up, where the environmental, social and economic benefits of increased dry-season flows to the South West region can be maximized.

The proposed Bangladesh Rivers Information and Conservation (BRIC) project aims to do so by up-grading the hydrological network of the country, restoring the Gorai river mouth, and providing support to institutional development for water resources management. The preliminary estimated cost of the project is US$160 million. A US$3 million Project Preparation Fund will be required to assess the current hydrology network and data systems, update the necessary feasibility studies and complete the detailed designs for the Gorai restoration component.

The World Bank and the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) has agreed on a time-bound action plan to finalize the project preparation activities. The timeline for initial restoration of the Gorai River mouth is estimated to be about 3 – 4 years. During this time, tangible benefits for the people living along the Gorai River can be achieved by carrying out specific activities at a local level to build ownership at the grassroots level. The World Bank is closely involved in the project preparation of the BRIC and remains a committed partner in assisting the Government of Bangladesh to achieve its development objectives.