this long-awaited project is designed to shield Bangladesh from the adverse environmental impacts of India’s Farakka Barrage. Once completed, the barrage will modernize agricultural systems and transform the economic fortunes of 26 districts
Shafiq Rahman : The government is finally moving ahead with the long-awaited Padma Barrage project, involving a massive layout of Tk 34,497.25 crore, to revitalize the agricultural landscape of 26 southwestern districts. The project, conceived initially in 1961, aims to counter the negative environmental impacts of India’s Farakka Barrage by storing 290 crore cubic meters of water at Pangsha in Rajbari.
Govt Approves Tk 34,497-Cr Padma Barrage Project to Counter Salinity, Boost Irrigation
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has officially approved the mega ‘Padma Barrage (Phase 1)’ project, involving an estimated cost of Tk 34,497.25 crore. The approval came during an ECNEC meeting held on Wednesday (May 13) at the Cabinet Division conference room in the Bangladesh Secretariat.
The primary objective of this massive initiative is to store and regulate the water of the Padma River during the dry season, ensuring a consistent flow of freshwater across the country’s southwestern and northwestern river systems. The project aims to restore major river systems, combat salinity intrusion, expand irrigation facilities, and preserve ecological balance.Infrastructure and Design. According to official project documents, the main features of the mega project include:
2.1-km Main Barrage: To be constructed at Pangsha in Rajbari.
Control Structures: Equipped with 78 water discharge gates and 18 downstream control structures.
Eco & Transit Features: Dedicated fish passes, navigation locks for vessels, and riverbank protection dams.
Water Intake Points: Three water intake structures will be built for the Gorai, Chandana, and Hisna rivers.Reservoir and Water ManagementThe project will establish a 165-kilometer-long reservoir capable of storing approximately 290 crore cubic meters of water.
This massive storage capacity is expected to significantly fortify the water management systems of the southwestern region.River Management and Dredging To optimize water flow and restore navigability, extensive dredging operations will be conducted under river management:Gorai-Madhumati System: 135.6 kilometers of river dredging. Hisna River System: 246.46 kilometers of re-dredging.
Background and Impact
Originally surveyed in 1961 by the then East Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority, this long-awaited project is designed to shield Bangladesh from the adverse environmental impacts of India’s Farakka Barrage. Once completed, the barrage will modernize agricultural systems and transform the economic fortunes of 26 districts across Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Barishal divisions.
