Bangladesh approves $2.8 bn river project to tackle water shortages

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DHAKA: The Bangladesh government on Wednesday approved a mega river project valued at $2.8 billion, designed to address a persistent water crisis often attributed to reduced river flows from neighboring India. 

The centerpiece of the initiative is a 2.1-kilometer (1.3-mile) barrage on the Padma River, intended to store up to 2.9 billion cubic meters of water.

The project is expected to benefit approximately 70 million people, covering one-third of the country. According to Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, the scheme aims specifically to alleviate dry-season shortages in regions impacted by India’s Farakka Barrage, which has diverted water from the Ganges (known as the Padma in Bangladesh) since 1970.

Beyond addressing immediate water scarcity, officials anticipate the project will increase the flow of five rivers in the country's southwestern region. This restoration of water levels is expected to reduce soil salinity and provide a significant boost to both agriculture and local fish production, which are vital to the nation's economy.

The development also holds significant agricultural and industrial potential, with plans to irrigate 2.9 million hectares of land. Additionally, the government intends to construct a 113-megawatt hydroelectric power plant as part of the infrastructure, further supporting the energy needs of the population of 170 million.

This approval highlights Dhaka’s long-standing efforts to secure reliable water supplies for its agriculture-dependent economy. River sharing has been a major source of diplomatic friction with New Delhi for decades, and this project represents a strategic move by Bangladesh to manage its own water resources more efficiently in the face of these challenges.