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Bangla experts warn of ecological imbalance due to link canal project
Dhaka, Aug 22: Bangladeshi experts have warned that the planned construction of canals linking rivers in upstream by India would have disastrous impact on the country`s ecology and economy, days after Dhaka lodged a formal protest to Indian High Commissioner on the issue.
Dhaka, Aug 22: Bangladeshi experts have warned that the planned construction of canals linking rivers in upstream by India would have disastrous impact on the country's ecology and economy, days after Dhaka lodged a formal protest to Indian High Commissioner on the issue.
Bangladesh would turn into a desert in 50 years and crop production would be halved in five years if the project is implemented, experts were quoted as saying by the Janakantha daily today.
Speaking in a discussion yesterday, the experts claimed that once the link canal project is implemented, India will have full control of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, the two main rivers through which 60 per cent of water that flows through Bangladesh pass. On July 13, Dhaka had summoned acting Indian High Commissioner Dilip Sinha to hand over a protest note expressing concern over New Delhi's proposed mega project of link canal connecting rivers, claiming that diversion of waters would deprive the Bangladesh, a lower riparian country.
India has no right to unilaterally divert flow of waters of international rivers through such link canal, the experts said adding such actions are contrary to international law and conventions.
As a result of withdrawal, the coastal forestry will be destroyed and there will be other environmental disasters like raising of salinity in water which could raise the incidence of kidney diseases and high blood pressure, the experts claimed. Meanwhile, Dhaka is planning a taka 4000 crore project to preserve water, official BSS news agency reported.
Bureau Report
Speaking in a discussion yesterday, the experts claimed that once the link canal project is implemented, India will have full control of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, the two main rivers through which 60 per cent of water that flows through Bangladesh pass. On July 13, Dhaka had summoned acting Indian High Commissioner Dilip Sinha to hand over a protest note expressing concern over New Delhi's proposed mega project of link canal connecting rivers, claiming that diversion of waters would deprive the Bangladesh, a lower riparian country.
India has no right to unilaterally divert flow of waters of international rivers through such link canal, the experts said adding such actions are contrary to international law and conventions.
As a result of withdrawal, the coastal forestry will be destroyed and there will be other environmental disasters like raising of salinity in water which could raise the incidence of kidney diseases and high blood pressure, the experts claimed. Meanwhile, Dhaka is planning a taka 4000 crore project to preserve water, official BSS news agency reported.
Bureau Report