Groundwater Depletion with Expansion of Irrigation in Barind Tract: A Case Study of Tanore Upazila
ABSTRACT
In this paper successive depletion of groundwater level with expansion of groundwater irrigation in Barind Tract has been discussed from mid 1960s to 2010 in the context of Tanore Upazila, which is located in severely drought prone area of northwest Bangladesh. After starting of groundwater irrigation in Bangladesh, it spread rapidly all over the country, and about 80% of agricultural land is now supplied irrigation from groundwater. Availability of irrigation in Barind Tract has revolutionized its agriculture, but groundwater level is successively falling all over the country due to excessive withdrawal, and this process is accelerating due to water withdrawal from major rivers by upstream countries. In northwestern part of Bangladesh groundwater depletion problem is severe because this part is free from seasonal flooding. Only source of recharging of groundwater aquifer in this area is rainfall, but rainfall is also lowest here among the country. In this context, this paper presents the change of groundwater level with the spreading of groundwater irrigation in Barind Tract. Hydrograph analysis, groundwater level mapping, groundwater depletion rate calculation are done from groundwater level observation well data of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA). Climatic condition is analyzed by calculation of rainfall deviation from the data of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and interviews with farmers and experts of different branches are conducted to understand the nature of problems in the study area. Agricultural pattern, cropping intensity (262% in study area and national intensity is 180%), methods of cultivation, crop variety and yields all show a positive change after starting of groundwater irrigation in mid 1980s, but water level is continuously lowering at the rate of 1.37 ft/y in wet season and 0.72 ft/y in dry season. Water is the main input for agriculture but successive depletion of groundwater level can be a serious problem for water stressed Barind Tract. Crop diversification, artificial recharging, increasing dependency on surface water, increasing irrigation efficiency, rainwater harvesting etc., can be option for the area.
In this paper successive depletion of groundwater level with expansion of groundwater irrigation in Barind Tract has been discussed from mid 1960s to 2010 in the context of Tanore Upazila, which is located in severely drought prone area of northwest Bangladesh. After starting of groundwater irrigation in Bangladesh, it spread rapidly all over the country, and about 80% of agricultural land is now supplied irrigation from groundwater. Availability of irrigation in Barind Tract has revolutionized its agriculture, but groundwater level is successively falling all over the country due to excessive withdrawal, and this process is accelerating due to water withdrawal from major rivers by upstream countries. In northwestern part of Bangladesh groundwater depletion problem is severe because this part is free from seasonal flooding. Only source of recharging of groundwater aquifer in this area is rainfall, but rainfall is also lowest here among the country. In this context, this paper presents the change of groundwater level with the spreading of groundwater irrigation in Barind Tract. Hydrograph analysis, groundwater level mapping, groundwater depletion rate calculation are done from groundwater level observation well data of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA). Climatic condition is analyzed by calculation of rainfall deviation from the data of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and interviews with farmers and experts of different branches are conducted to understand the nature of problems in the study area. Agricultural pattern, cropping intensity (262% in study area and national intensity is 180%), methods of cultivation, crop variety and yields all show a positive change after starting of groundwater irrigation in mid 1980s, but water level is continuously lowering at the rate of 1.37 ft/y in wet season and 0.72 ft/y in dry season. Water is the main input for agriculture but successive depletion of groundwater level can be a serious problem for water stressed Barind Tract. Crop diversification, artificial recharging, increasing dependency on surface water, increasing irrigation efficiency, rainwater harvesting etc., can be option for the area.
Cite this paper
Rahman, M. and Mahbub, A. (2012) Groundwater Depletion with Expansion of Irrigation in Barind Tract: A Case Study of Tanore Upazila. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 4, 567-575. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2012.48066.
Rahman, M. and Mahbub, A. (2012) Groundwater Depletion with Expansion of Irrigation in Barind Tract: A Case Study of Tanore Upazila. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 4, 567-575. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2012.48066.
References
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[1] M. Shamsudduha, R. G. Taylor, K. M. Ahmed and A. Zahid, “The Impact of Intensive Groundwater Abstraction on Recharge to a Shallow Regional Aquifer System: Evidence from Bangladesh,” Hydrogeology Journal, Vol. 19, No. 4, 2011, pp. 901-916. HUdoi:10.1007/s10040-011-0723-4 [2] UNDP (United Nation Development Programme), “Ground- water Survey: The Hydro-Geological Conditions of Bangladesh,” Technical Report, UNDP, New York, 1982, DP/UN/BGD-74-009/1. [3] BADC (Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation), “Minor Irrigation Survey Report 2009-10,” BADC, Dhaka, 2010, p. 3. [4] A. M. Ali, “Fundamentals of Irrigation and On-farm Water Management,” Springer-Verlag New York Inc., New York, Vol. 1, 2011, p. 18. [5] IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) IBRD-IDA Tube Well Project, EPADC, East Pakistan, 1970, Vol. PA-49a, Annex 11, p. 1. [6] K. B. S. Rasheed, “Bangladesh: Resource and Environmental Profile,” A.H. Development Publishing House, Dhaka, 2008. [7] K. M. Ahmed, “Barind Tract,” 2006. http://www.banglapedia.org/httpdocs/HT/B_0309.HTM [8] K. M. Ahmed, M. A. Hossain, “Groundwater,” 2006. http://www.banglapedia.org/httpdocs/HT/G_0209.HTM [9] BMDA (Barind Multipurpose Development Authority), “Borandro Authority Past-Present,” BMDA Rajshahi, 2006, p. 35. [10] BMDA (Barind Multipurpose Development Authority), 2011. http://www.bmda.gov.bd/ [11] SRDI (Soil Resource Development Institute), “Upazila Land and Soil Resource Utilization Guide: Tanore, Rajshahi,” SRDI, 2000, p. 10. [12] SRDI (Soil Resource Development Institute), “Land and Soil Statistical Appraisal Book of Bangladesh,” SRDI, Dhaka, 2010, p. 155. [13] BBS (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics), “Cropping Intensity of Bangladesh,” 2010. http://www.brri.gov.bd/info_services/rice_database/Cropping%20Intensity.pdf