THE Barind Multipurpose Development Authorities have been implementing different need-based projects to improve the socio-economic conditions by increasing crop production side by side protecting the environment across the Barind area in northern region.
   Executive director of the BMDA SM Abdul Mannan on Friday said implementation of some good projects during the last two decades came out with desired crop production along with safe-drinking water, forestry and concrete roads in the dried Barind region.
   The BMDA already executed eight big projects by spending Tk 756.21 crore under its command areas in 25 upazilas of Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj from 1985-86 to 2003-04.
   Now eight other projects are being implemented in Thakurgaon and Dinajpur in addition to the 25 upazilas at an estimated cost of about Tk 744.81 crore since 2003-2004. More than half of the total works has been completed at a cost of Tk 358.97 crore while the rest is expected to be finished in phases by 2012.
   After evaluating the success and the progress of the BMDA in irrigation management, it was given the responsibilities of rehabilitating all non-functional deep tube wells under the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation throughout the northern region.
   The ongoing projects of the BMDA include Barind rainwater conservation and irrigation, deep tube well installation, command area development and training, rural road development, forestry programme for ecological balance, quality seed production on farmers level, integrated area development and Barind environmental balance restoration through forestry.
   Mannan said execution of the projects had yielded a significant success in crop production including quality seed, creation of ecological balance, road communication and development of socio-economic condition leading to raising the standard of life and living of the targeted people.
   Around 20.56 lakh tonnes of crops particularly rice including additional of 13.68 lakh tonnes valued at Tk 1,108 crore are being produced in the region annually, he said.
   Officials said before the inception of the BMDA, the number of deep tube wells was only 500 with total irrigated area of about 5,000 hectares. At that time, the farmers had to depend on the mercy of rainwater for crop production.
   Now, they said, the number of deep tube wells is 10,737 including 6,029 with power connections in the command areas with the total irrigated area of 3,54,232 hectares in the region.
   Under the pond and canal-digging programme, they said, 2611 ponds and 415 kilometres of derelict canals were re-excavated making them fit for fish culture and irrigation. A total of 295 cross-dams have also been constructed to preserve surface water in the canals.
   In addition to providing training to 53,826 farmers on various need-based issues, more than 2.25 crore saplings of various trees were planted in the command area to protect environmental balance and meet the growing demands for fruits and timber in the region.
   Out of the existing 1,200-kilometr non-metalled roads in the three districts, 684.50 kilometres have so far been made concrete and the rest are expected to be completed in phases.
   The officials also said a Tk 99.40 crore project has been undertaken to ensure safe drinking water for the Barind people through using the irrigation deep tube wells.
   ‘Successful implementation of these projects is creating jobs for the unemployed people and also supplementing the government’s efforts to ensure an environment-friendly weather in the region,’ the BMDA executive director said.