The government is going to install eight more high-powered submersible pumps at two points of the Bhabodah area soon to pump out the stagnant water from the waterlogged areas of Jessore district.
The Water Development Board (WDB), after getting necessary approval from the Planning Commission, is going to float a tender for procuring these pumps within this week, Polash Kumar Benarji, Executive Engineer of the WDB, said on Saturday.
We are expecting to install these 35 cusec high-powered German-manufactured submersible pumps at two points of the Bhabodah sluice gates area within the middle of next month to pump out the excessive water from the area so that the farmers can cultivate Boro paddy this year, Polash Kumar said.
"We will install five pumps at the upstream of 21-vent regulators at Kopalia point and three others at eight-vent regulators at Bil Khukshia to pump out the stagnant water of Manirampur, Avaynagar and Keshabpur upazilas of Jessore district," Benarji, executive engineer of Jessore, said.
Four high-powered submersible and 16 low-powered pumps are now pumping out the stagnant water from the area but these are insufficient for the irrigation of the stagnant water from the area, Benarji added.
According to the sources, the Planning Commission has already approved a project of Tk45.41 crore from the GOB fund that will bring 73,000 hectares of land directly or indirectly under cultivation by removing waterlogging from the areas. It will also create a positive impact on the river communication and fish cultivation in the area through the implementation of this project, the sources said.
The WDB will buy an amphibious multi-purpose dragger for full-time dragging and repair of 18 sluice gates under this project, the sources added.
According to the Delta Plan-2100, waterlogging is the major problem of the south-western part of Bangladesh, in which the Bhabodah area is the most vulnerable in the region.
The people of over 150 villages of Manirampur, Keshabpur, Avaynagar and Sadar upazilas of Jashore district have been suffering from waterlogging for a long time.
The government has already approved a project of Tk140 crore for the re-digging of five rivers and canals in the area under the supervision of the Bangladesh Army to solve the problem.