Pabna, Feb 21 (V7N) - The Pabna Irrigation and Rural Development (IRD) project, launched in 1992 with an investment of Tk 384 crore, is reportedly failing to provide the anticipated irrigation benefits to farmers due to maintenance issues, neglect, and mismanagement. Despite spending millions on upkeep, the project’s main objective is not being met, causing rising production costs and financial losses for farmers.
 
The project was designed to reduce agricultural costs and provide irrigation across 18,000 hectares of land. It included the construction of pump stations, canals, flood control embankments, and other infrastructure. However, due to the lack of regular maintenance, many canals are no longer functional, with some even being encroached upon by influential individuals for fish farming, leaving thousands of farmers struggling to get irrigation water.
 
Farmers report paying just Tk 180 per bigha per year for irrigation water, but during this season, secondary and branch canals have not been supplying water. As a result, farmers are forced to rely on deep and shallow tube wells, significantly increasing irrigation costs.
 
A PWD official from Beera admitted that the project, once a success, has now become ineffective, with authorities unable to meet irrigation needs even for half the target area. Despite spending millions on maintenance, essential canals remain blocked, and water supply has decreased.
 
In response, the Executive Engineer of PWD’s Beera office assured that the water supply to secondary canals had started and a proposal for infrastructure upgrades was submitted. With the planned improvements, the project hopes to expand irrigation coverage and reach its target for crop production.
 
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