The government’s recent approval of the Padma Barrage megaproject, touted as a solution to the water crisis in the country’s southwest and northwest regions, cannot be assessed solely through the lens of its promised benefits, especially at a time when economic austerity and fiscal prudence are paramount. The concerns raised by environment experts must be taken into consideration before its construction begins, estimated to cost Tk 34,497 crore just in the first phase.
According to media reports, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) will implement the project, aiming completion by 2033, initially without any foreign loans. A 2.1-km barrage and related infrastructure will be constructed in Rajbari’s Pangsha upazila, along with a reservoir with the capacity to store 2,900 million cubic metres of water in the Padma River, and a hydropower plant with the capacity to generate 113MW of electricity. The project will revive five river systems, and its first phase is expected to benefit 19 districts and 20 upazilas across four divisions, helping irrigation and boosting rice production.
In a way, the project is expected to solve the crisis created by upstream diversion at the Farakka Barrage. Many rivers, including the Gorai-Modhumati, the primary freshwater source for southwest Bangladesh, experience severe dry season depletion because of the Farakka Barrage. The 1996 Ganges Water Treaty, set to expire this December, failed to address this situation. The irony is that the success or failure of the Padma Barrage hinges, to a considerable extent, on a well-balanced, fair water-sharing treaty with India. The Farakka Barrage and the proposed Padma Barrage lie within the same river system—the former on the upstream stretch and the latter on the downstream stretch of the Ganges basin. Thus, Padma Barrage’s ability to store monsoon water for release during the dry season depends on India releasing water as expected. Therefore, a treaty that ensures Bangladesh will receive its fair share of water is essential before launching an ambitious downstream project. Experts are rightly concerned that the Padma Barrage could weaken our position in a new Ganges water-sharing treaty negotiation with India.
There are other environmental concerns. Experts say upstream siltation would raise the river bed between Pangsha and Rajshahi, leading to increased riverbank erosion and severe flooding. Moreover, Prof Nazrul Islam, founder of Bangladesh Environment Network, opines that the barrage would reduce water flow in some rivers in the central region of the country. It would not be wise to create more problems to solve one, especially when a large investment is required.
Therefore, we urge the government to revisit its decision and carry out an extensive feasibility study before allocating funds for the project. It is already grappling with huge domestic borrowing; funding this megaproject from our own coffers will further constrain the space for private sector borrowing and put increased pressure on taxpayers. Prudence and diplomatic engagement—not short-term political gains—should guide decisions on projects of such magnitude.
