Water: Our Lifeline, Our Responsibility
Water, a precious natural resource, is at the heart of our existence and development. Yet, in Bangladesh, a staggering 68.3 million people lack access to safely managed drinking water, as highlighted by the WHO-UNICEF report (2021). This stark reality demands our immediate attention and a reevaluation of our water management practices.
The Paradox of Water Abundance and Scarcity
Bangladesh faces a unique challenge: an abundance of water during certain times of the year, leading to a false perception of surplus. However, this surplus view neglects the needs of our environment and ecology. On the other hand, during the dry season, water becomes scarce, creating serious shortages and impacting various sectors.
A Crisis Looms: The Need for Sustainable Management
Despite having laws and policies for sustainable water resource management, Bangladesh is heading towards a major crisis. Our Constitution emphasizes the protection of nature and wetlands, but these principles are often overlooked. It's time to evaluate and apply these policies effectively to avoid an impending disaster.
Bangladesh's Water Management Crossroads
Bangladesh's approach to water management is at a critical juncture. The focus on 'water development' at the expense of significant funds has led to ineffective outcomes due to the lack of 'water management' practices. We must ask ourselves: Should we continue down this path, or is it time for a radical shift in our approach? Can we adapt our management style to address the constraints and mistakes we've made?
The Seasonal Challenge: Surface, Ground, and Rainwater
Water availability in Bangladesh is heavily influenced by seasonal variability. During the monsoon months, surface water, groundwater, and rainwater are abundant, often exceeding demand. However, in the dry and winter months, the situation changes drastically. Rainfall becomes negligible, groundwater levels drop, and surface water supply diminishes, creating a complex management challenge.
Climate Change: A Looming Threat
Climate change and global warming will further exacerbate water availability issues. Rainfall patterns are predicted to change, with potential decreases during peak monsoon months and increases during pre- and post-monsoon periods. This unpredictability will create unfavorable conditions, especially in the north-western regions, potentially leading to drought-like situations that threaten crop production.
The Complexity of Floods and Droughts
The incidence of floods and droughts adds another layer of complexity. Early flash floods in certain regions, such as Sylhet, Mymensingh, and Comilla, may occur more frequently, impacting crop protection. The traditional use of submersible dikes has failed due to improper water management practices.
Changing Flood Patterns and Urban Vulnerability
Monsoon floods are also changing in terms of timing, intensity, frequency, and duration. With increasing urbanization and settlement in vulnerable areas like riverbanks and floodplains, the problem of drainage congestion will worsen. Cities like Dhaka are at risk of facing serious drainage issues, leading to increased misery for affected communities.
The Absence of Coordination: A Professional Concern
In the professional realm, there is a lack of coordination among agencies and organizations responsible for water management. Controlled water availability is crucial for crop production, especially for paddy. The key factors influencing rice productivity are seed quality, essential inputs, and water control. However, the overdependence on groundwater and lack of rainfall during the dry season pose significant challenges.
Rice Production and Human Consumption: A Delicate Balance
Bangladesh's rice production has shifted from flood-tolerant varieties to high-yielding varieties that require adequate irrigation. While this has increased productivity, it has also made the country vulnerable to water management issues. Aman, once the main food grain, has been overtaken by the high-yielding Boro variety, which relies on winter irrigation. The demand for safe drinking water is a basic human right, yet many rural areas face challenges in accessing clean water, especially in the coastal belt where water is becoming saline due to global warming.
Evaluating Agricultural Practices and Exploring New Crops
The impact of global warming and rising sea levels is pushing salinity levels further inland, affecting rice production and even shrimp farming in the southwestern districts. It's crucial to evaluate agricultural practices and explore new crop options, such as sugar production from beetroot. Access to adequate water for sanitation and hygiene remains critically low in many regions, highlighting the need for improved WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) management.
The Non-Consumptive Uses of Water: Wetlands and Navigation
Water has non-consumptive uses that are often overlooked. Wetlands, for example, provide essential ecological benefits and support fish growth. Unfortunately, Bangladesh is drying up its wetlands to convert them into agricultural land and expand urban areas. This misunderstanding of wetlands as wastelands needs to be addressed. Navigation is another important non-consumptive use, offering the cheapest mode of transportation for non-perishable goods in a riverine country like Bangladesh. However, the development of navigation facilities has been ignored, and opportunities are limited by seasonal river levels.
Managing Coastal and Marine Waters: A Holistic Approach
The management of coastal and marine waters should be a comprehensive effort, extending from the high mountains to the deep coastal belt. The global slogan of linking Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) with Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is relevant here. Bangladesh needs to reevaluate its port development and planning processes, especially for Mongla and Payra ports, which are located in shallow-water areas.
Understanding Sediment Transport and River Dynamics
Water carries sediment, and understanding sediment transport is crucial for effective water management. Rivers carry various types of sediment, and developing a sound understanding of sediment nature and quantity is essential. Data collection on sediment is a matter of national importance.
Disasters and Water-Related Issues: A Strong Correlation
Disasters, such as floods, droughts, and landslides, are strongly correlated with water-related issues. Clogged sedimentation routes, river erosion, and valuable land destruction are all concerns that need to be addressed. Heavy rainfall, a major cause of landslides, also creates drainage congestion problems in urban areas, for which cities and towns are often unprepared.
The Institutional Challenge: Who Manages Water?
Currently, no single entity is mandated with the appropriate authority to manage water in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) focuses on development rather than management. A shift in thinking and a change in the organization's name and mandate may be necessary. Effective water management requires coordination, authority, and accountability, which are currently lacking.
Transboundary Water: A Political Priority
Transboundary water, with over 100 rivers flowing from India into Bangladesh, is a critical issue that requires action at the highest political level. The current institutional arrangement is ineffective, and by 2027, political leadership will need to take the lead on this matter.
Conclusion: A Call for Action
It's time for Bangladesh to take a fresh look at its water management practices and shift its national policy from water development to integrated, climate-resilient water management. The benefits of water development are reaching saturation, and it's crucial to bring the future into our planning process and reform our institutions. The key lies in enforcing existing water laws, reducing groundwater dependence, and ensuring coordination and accountability in water governance. The time for action is now.
