Water minister stresses solutions to haor problems

Mentioning that the Haor areas are affected by a complicated set of problems that cannot be solved all in one go, the Water Resources Minister Anwar Hossain Manju on Wednesday stressed on prioritising the problems first to effectively address those. 

The minister came up with the remark while speaking at a presentation event on a research titled 'Lives and Livelihood Issues of Haor Dwellers' held at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city. Probal Saha, water resource management specialist of the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) made the presentation. 

Stressing collaborative effort to solve the problems, the minister said, "We would have achieved GDP growth 10 times more if we could work in coordination at all levels, including districts and unions. And, if we could prevent 'wastage', which however is termed "corruption" by many, there would have a GDP growth two times more." 

Speakers in the programme stressed on the establishment of manufacturing plants to create alternative employment opportunity, assistance for women entrepreneurs and effective measures to prevent and control river erosion including the essential measures for the development of Haor people in the north and northeast of Bangladesh. 

C3ER conducted the research among nine communities of different upazlias in Sunamganj between February 7 and March 15 this year. 

The study recommendations include among others, low-interest bank loans for the haor dwellers, construction and repair of embankments, long-term planning to boost agricultural production, opening 'jolmohal' (water-bodies under government jurisdiction that are leased out for fish culture) for affected people during emergencies of flashfloods and other natural disasters allowing them to catch fish, and technological improvement of early warning system in weather forecast. 

State minister for finance and planning Muhammad Abdul Mannan said, "I have much doubt about the sustainability of the crop insurance in the haor area." 

Mentioning that insurance means that the clients will have to pay the premiums, he said, "We have to think more how realistic option the crop insurance would be for the poor farmers of the haor." 

Dr Ishtiaq Mannan, deputy country director of Save the Children, said, "Time is extremely valuable in haor livelihood management. Resource damages cannot be prevented unless we are able to take timely action. For this involving the local community is essential for effective infrastructure management in haor."