Report on Tidal area study
No hay miniatura disponible
Fecha
Título de la revista
ISSN de la revista
Título del volumen
Editor
Resumen
Descripción
vast tract of low lying tidal flood plain in the coastal area of Bangladesh is flooded twice in a day. For many years, these lands used to be protected by dwarf embankment under the initiative of local Zamindars. Paddy cultivation in rotation with fish production were the main activities of the people of the area. Dykes constructed by the Zamindars were of inadequate section, low quality and required continuous maintenance. Dykes often collapsed due to hydrostatic pressure and errossive action of wind and current. Drainage facilities provided were also inadequate. After abolition of Zamindari system in Bangladesh, the Government started construction of Coastal Embankment Project in 1961 under USAID assistance. An area of about 5000 sq. miles were given protection in the districts of Khulna, Barisal, Noakhali and Chittagong. The Coastal Embankment Project was intended to increase agricultural production by preventing saline water inundation, reducing the flood hazards and preservi ng sweet water in the internal channel system. Effect of river confinement and future land use pattern were not taken into consideration and century long practice of paddy-cum-fish culture were stopped. An important consequence of the river confine ment was the rapid river siltation. This problem was very much pronounced in the western zone of the delta and many of the drainage sluices could not effectively function during the monsoon result inundation within the polders. Coastal Embankment Pr oject, however, has provided a favourable infrastructure