Waterlogging: Causes, Coverage and its economic implications:A study on Mulghar union, Fakirhat, Bagerhat

ABSTRACT

The scenario of water logging situation in Bangladesh is becoming worsening and insufferable day by day. The decline in agriculture and fish production has been attributed to a general deterioration of the wetlands, characterized by silting up of river bed which causes water logging in southwestern region of Bangladesh. The aim of this study is to find out the causes and consequences of water logging into the study area. Water logging means the stagnant of water which is caused by both natural and by men itself. Mostly coastal areas people are interested to cultivation of shrimp rather than agricultural which cause water logging into that region. Water logging has another consequence of land use changes because water logging is closely related with land and land related activities.

This report summarizes research activities conduct to develop a model regarding the economic implication of waterlogging. For this model income is the dependent and water logged area are the independent variable and a positive correlation have been identified between these two variable. A detailed land use survey has been carried out through FGDs with the local people. For identifying the effects of water logging the land use, occupation pattern, income distribution, cropping pattern, etc have been used. By weighted index method the causes of water logging have been identified. From this research it has been found that the income has been raised due to water logging. Water logging in Mulghar Union (the study area) creates a change in income, employment and livelihood pattern which have significant implications on economy. Unfrozen condition, faulty construction of the coastal embankments and lack of proper maintenance of the polders of the whole area however led to a tragic situation. The impact of this water logging over the period of twenty years in Mulghar has been not yet disastrous for the economy but in near future it will create serious problem both social and economic.

1.1 Statement of the problem

Bangladesh is intersected by a large number of rivers and estuaries which are connected by the innumerable cross-channels. Rivers and estuaries perpetually play a very important role for controlling the water flow. When the banks of the rivers become higher than the adjacent land and forms a series of depressions between their courses, the water-flows from the north to the south is disrupted. This disturbance in the water-flows creates waterlogging in different parts of the country. Interference with the existing condition was started in the southwest region of Bangladesh in the early 1960s when the coastal embankment project (CEP) was taken place in this coastal region. Rapid siltation at the regulators of downstream and poor management of sluice gate, created blockage in the drainage channels which ultimately resulted waterlogging. From the mid 1980 both natural and man-made waterlogging has regularly plagued in the southwest region. Man-made waterlogging originated mainly from shrimp cultivation. Villagers built artificial dams in their lands in order to practice shrimp cultivation which initiated man-made waterlogging. In the recent years it has created severe havoc in 8 thanas encompassing four districts namely Khulna, Bagerhat, Jessore and Satkhira. The scenario of waterlogging and its damages is becoming worsening and insufferable day by day. The decline in agriculture and fish production has been attributed to a general deterioration of the agri-land and wetlands. As in the southwest part of Bangladesh holds ample geographical opportunity to practice shrimp culture, so agri-lands are declining and its structure is also changing. Land structure is changing due to construction of dams around the shrimp cultivable land. This change in land structure causes man-made waterlogging. People are adopting shrimp culture more intensively day by day because it provides more monetary return from the same piece of land that is used for rice cultivation before. In rainy season the people let the brackish water enter into their land to culture the Bagda shrimp. But in winter season the stored water on the land cannot be moved out into the river which causes man-made waterlogging due to shrimp cultivation.

Water is one of the most precious gifts of nature. It is a very important element which influences economy, agriculture and industrial growth. Especially from the economic point of view, waterlogging that is created by shrimp cultivation enacts strongly to uplift or dropdown the economy. Waterlogging has a strong correlation with income or monetary return from the land. The progression of a society is also dictated by waterlogging due to its diversified implications. At present, waterlogging is one of the burning issues in Bangladesh. The wetland areas that work as natural reservoirs are   declining due to population pressure. This has increased the probability of natural waterlogging. Again the increasing numbers of ‘ghers’ has also increased the probability of man-made waterlogging (Tushar, 2001). Kendua beel, Dholmara beel, Handia beel of Lalchandrapur, Gobordha beel of Boiltoli, Moshier char sutir beel of Nowapara, Jora’s beel, Poddo beel, Vetki beel and Nalua beel are the natural waterlogged areas of Fakirhat and Mollarhat upazilla. Due to waterlogging the income, employment and livelihood pattern of the people of Fakirhat upazilla is changing which has significant implications on economy. The people are looking for alternative employment like van pulling, petty business rather than agro-farming. The magnitude of waterlogging associated with soil salinity has been progressively increasing since the inception of irrigated agriculture. It has been found a big constraint in achieving optimum agricultural production from the waterlogged area. Most of the low lands go under water due to continuous heavy and medium rainfall that often creates temporary and permanent water logging. Now-a-days due to waterlogging a small amount of land can be brought under rice cultivation during the dry season. The inflow and outflow of water from rivers and beels to canals fails to move easily due to construction of unplanned dams and structure on rivers and canals, illegal river occupation by the local leaders and powerful people, building cross dams for shrimp cultivation and siltation on the regulatory gates. This stagnation of water flow also causes waterlogging. The restoration of this waterlogging becomes the need of the hour for the sack of the economic development. If it is not controlled now, its adverse effects will be beyond our means of combat. This study entitled “waterlogging: coverage, causes and its economic implications”, will spearhead the causes of waterlogging and will depict the affected area of waterlogging in different decades and its economic implications on Mulghar union of Fakirhat upazilla.  

1.2 a between river Objectives

a)      To identify the causes of waterlogging

b)      To identify the change in land use pattern due to waterlogging

c)      To identify the economic implications of waterlogging

 1.3 Rationale of the study

When a colossal infrastructure investment was done in coastal embankment project in the 60s, huge problems were created including natural waterlogging. Village after village submerged, houses collapsed and communication disrupted at that time. People accustomed to live on the embankments and roads. The amount of livestock greatly decreased due to lack of sufficient food with the waterlogged situation. Procurement of fire-woods, drinking water became very tough and costly. People found no work then and finally income of the poor people was sharply decreased. Around 1990s, when shrimp culture took place in lieu of rice cultivation, man-made waterlogging has started in according with natural waterlogging. In 1997, the total amount of land in Fakirhat upazilla was 37,966 acres. Out of this total land, 31,825 acres of land was net cultivable land and 752 acres of land was fellow land. The total waterlogged land was 3,000 to 4,000 hectares (Fakirhat land record book, 1998). Shrimp cultivation is one of the prime reasons for man-made waterlogging. Lots of newspapers are published regarding the news of southwest waterlogging problems both natural and man-made. This news enlightens the severity of natural and man-made waterlogging in different sectors like economic, social, industrial etc. Land is one of the important elements of economy. As waterlogging is highly concerned with land, crop production and cropping intensity of the land, so it has significant implications on economy. So it is quite rationale to deal with economic effects of waterlogging of Fakirhat. In Mulghar union most of the rice cultivable land is turning to shrimp cultivable land due to waterlogging. This indicates that water logging is responsible for landuse change. The second objective of this study has depicted the change in landuse pattern due to water logging and the third objective has identified the economic implications of waterlogging including income, occupation, production and economic return from the land which has made the study more rationale. There is a general thinking that waterlogging impedes the development and collapse the economy but sometimes people get benefited from their waterlogged land if it is man-made waterlogging.. Because people make such type of waterlogging in their own needs. In Mulghar union of Fakirhat upazilla, around 90 percent villagers use their land for shrimp cultivation purpose which gives more monetary return than rice cultivation (Field survey, 2004). There lies so many varieties and diversity in waterlogging problems of southwest region of Bangladesh which are very much atypical in nature. Water logging is a very emerging issue and it is very often occurred in different districts of Bangladesh. So it is quite rationale to deal with waterlogging and its economic effects. .

1.4 Scope of the study

Waterlogging has direct effects on land use change. In Fakirhat upazilla, there were 750 ‘ghers’ in 1990 but in 2000, it was 2,447. The total area of rice cultivable land was 13,570 acres in 1990 but in 2000 it was 5,690 acres (Tushar, 2001). There is no data about the shrimp cultivable area.  But this study results that shrimp cultivable area is increasing. There exists cause and effect relationship between waterlogging and landuse change. The study has identified how waterlogging has affected the landuse pattern, why waterlogging has occurred and in what extent the economic implications has taken place including occupational change, income change, change in production, cropping intensity and change in economic from the waterlogged land. Considering the above mentioned aspects, this study might be able to play an imperative role to depict water logging scenario not only in Mulghar union of Fakirhat upazilla but also the other waterlogged areas of Bangladesh.    

Waterlogging has become a source of permanent sufferings of at least half million people in southwestern part of Bangladesh. It has significant effects on local economy. Rural economy is primarily based on land and land related activities. This study has identified the landuse change due to waterlogging, so it has the scope to identify the causes of landuse change followed by occupational change.

In the name of highly technical solutions, the international donor agencies have implemented projects which have further initiated water logging and have brought serious sufferings to the people. The study has enough opportunity to involve the local people for expressing their views about waterlogging and its solution which would decrease the sufferings of waterlogging.

This study deals with man-made waterlogging which is quite different than natural waterlogging. In Mulghar union the primary causes of waterlogging are man-made. But there exists also natural waterlogging. It is not so easy to deal with both type of waterlogging in a short time and short resources. So it has ample opportunity to deal with the both type waterlogging regarding the socio-economic effects.   

Considering the monetary devaluation from 1985 to 2004 for representing actual income difference and relation among areas of total land and waterlogged land and income will open up a new facet for economic implication analysis.  

  

1.5 Literature reviews

The CEP (Coastal Embankment Project) was a part of the ‘Green Revolution’, which sought to increase agricultural production and to protect human settlements and crops from the tidal surges. Under the CEP, 92 polders, 4,000 km dams and 780 sluice gates were constructed which results tremendous increase in agricultural production till 1970’s

(Uttaran, 2000-2002). But gradually its negative effects fall upon the agriculture, economy and environment. Before implementing this project local people built temporary dams for preserving water for rice cultivation and after harvesting the crops, they demolished the dams to let in the water into the cultivable land. The project had both positive and negative implications. When the project was implemented, it opened a new opportunity in the production arena which was positive at that moment. Later it introduced waterlogging problem which was found in the mid 1970’s that might be regarded as negative effects of water logging. The local people changed their landuse pattern from paddy cultivation to shrimp cultivation to adapt the waterlogged situation. The CEP is very much responsible for creating the waterlogging problem in the coastal region. Waterlogging is an emerging problem and CEP is one of the considerable reasons of waterlogging in the coastal region, so it will show a direction to identify the probable causes of natural and man-made waterlogging and its consequences. 

To irrigate and to save million hectares of land from flood and waterlogging, the Chalan beel project was taken in 1964 by the WAPDA. A total of nine thanas including three thanas of Rajshahi, two of Naogaon, three of Natore and one of Pabna district were included under this project (Uttaran, 2000-2002). Due to siltation and improper management of sluice gates, vast areas of Chalan beel became waterlogged which results less cropping intensity and less agricultural production. To get rid of stagnant water and to the use the land that emerged as a result of siltation, Chalan beel projects had taken proper steps for extraction of water from water logged areas.  The steps that adopted to overcome the water logging of Chalan beel were connecting the Chalan beel to the beel Halti, raising the embankments, widening the sluice gates, excavations of the tributaries. Bangladesh Water and Flood management strategy that approved in 1995 had given a framework for incorporating public opinions in decision making phases in order to eradicate the waterlogging problem. Tegardind this problem.iltation.The problems of waterlogging are widening and prevails on a temporary or permanent basis. These problems and effects of waterlogging were analyzed depending on change in land use pattern, cropping pattern, crop production or cropping intensity and monetary return from the land.

The disaster that erupted in the early ‘80s engulfing beel Dakatia a fall out of the mega development called Coastal Embankment Project, consisted an area of around 14326 hectares. In course of 12 years, it had affected an area of 1, 00,600 hectares of 4 thanas of Khulna district, 3 thanas of Jessore district and 1 thana of Satkhira district. This means that the waterlogging had increased by 700 perccent in the 12 years and still increasing day by day (Uttaran, 2000-2002). Migration to urban areas and to India increased and the long tradition of the family unit had been destroyed due to waterlogging. At present, water becomes locked inside the polders, submerging the people’s land and houses which eventuate water logging. The twin problems of salinity and stagnation of water have affected all aspects of livelihoods of the people. Agriculture has been suspended and the social forestry has been virtually wiped out. Even the homestead gardens have been decreased. The incidence of both absolute and extreme poverty has gone up day by day. People have lost their hope for rehabilitating this waterlogged situation (Zahedul, 1998).  At the beginning the water logging problem, it occurred for a few months in each year, but with no respite it prevails all the year round at present. The water board has responded to overcome the water logging situation with various projects. However, in stead of solving the problem, it has turned the problem worsen (Tushar, 2001).  

According to BIDS survey (1994), 34 percent waterlogged household were landless while the proportion of small/ marginal farmers were 39%, 28% medium were farmers and the proportion of large farmers were 7% only.

Atiur Rahman (1995) reported in his study that while developing physical infrastructure, the policy makers ought to be careful about the natural flow of water, socio-cultural sensitivity and environmental prudence of the local people. It should be remembered that there is common belief that the water logging is a curse, as people wanted to violet the rule of nature and neglect people’s prudence.  

Gouranga Nandy (1999) quoted that land less people got benefits during the water logging period in the perspective of the source of income only. The landless people engaged themselves in shrimp cultivation as a daily labor basis.

Pakuria beel project includes the beel of Baliakandi thana in greater Faridpur district. This beel inundated with water all the year round except a short time of winter season. After the implementation of the project, the waterlogging problem is partially removed by following a change in the crop production style. This project has shown an open window for solving the waterlogging problem for south-west region by adopting a change in the crop production style (Upazilla direction series-12, 1989).

L.R. Fowcus (1920) in his book entitled as “Final report on the survey and settlement operation in the district of Khulna (1920-1926)” has said, ‘water logging is a massive problem and people need to be mobilized for sustainable solutions. Traditional knowledge of the people should be used along with the expertise of modern water engineering to solve the water logging problem.

The summation of small scale water resource management projects are known as ‘Small Scale Irrigation Sector Project’ (SSISP) has considered the water stagnation aspects to carry out irrigation program. This project was concerned with flood control and water drain off from the water logged areas (Bangladesh development studies, vol.12.p.26.). The SSISP seems to be fruitful for the following reasons which are also applicable to solve the waterlogging problem:

Ÿ  The project has solved the problem with less diversified effects on the environment and economic loss.

Ÿ  Since it has covered small areas, public opinion or their participation could be an effective way from problem fixation to implementation phase.

Ÿ  Use of local resources, applicability of appropriate labor oriented technology and proper use of manpower would be an effective way to solve the water logging problem.

In six districts (Jessore, Satkhira, Khulna, Narail, Bagerhat, Gopalganj) in the Southwest region, 31 thanas out of 42 have water logging problems. At present, areas of Fakirhat and Mollarhat upazilla of Bagerhat district and some portion of Rupsha upazilla inundated with water day by day. The water logging of Beel Kendua is one of the most emerging issues for Mollarhat, Fakirhat and Rupsha upazilla. 29 mouzas of Mollarhat upazilla, 10 mouzas of Fakirhat upazilla and 2 mouzas of Rupsha upazilla are included in the beel areas which possess 7 percent of Mollarhat upazilla, 7 percent of Fakirhat upazilla and 15 percent of Rupsha upazilla. The area of the Kendua beel is 35088 acres. (Uttaran, 2000-2002). Only 25 percent of this vast water logged areas can be brought under shrimp cultivation and the rest 75 percent water logged areas remain futile (Tushar, 2001).

Mr. Jahangir Hossain and Shafiullah Miah (1990) mentioned that the main causes of waterlogging were over and intensive irrigation, seepage of water from the adjoining high land, seepage of water through the canals, inadequate natural drainage ,inadequate surface drainage, excessive rainfall, submergence due to flood, water regulatory gates.

Lots of research is done to depict the waterlogged situation in Bangladesh. This study has considered both natural and man-made waterlogging with their economic effects. A hypothesis was taken under consideration which established a relation between waterlogged areas and monetary income. The hypothesis was built by extracting the literatures and the variables for regression analysis were also taken through this. The earlier studies has not considered all these things in a comprehensive manner for analyzing the waterlogged situation and its implications on economy.  The research aims to identify the inherent problems of waterlogging and the economic implications of waterlogging over a period from 1985 to 2004.  

1.6 Limitations

The decadal landuse change map was prepared by the participatory approach which might be wrong from the actual coverage of waterlogged areas. For getting the actual picture of waterlogging coverage, the satellite image would be perfect. This study has identified only the economic implications of waterlogging overlooking the social and environmental effects. This should be incorporated with the study to get the actual scenario of waterlogging. It is quite a hard task to identify parameters of economic implications of water logging. The parameters as taken in this study may not be sufficient. Some others parameters should be included which is excluded in this study due to lack of availability of data and other supports (time, money, etc).   

1.7 Organization of the study

Chapter one is the introductory chapter. It includes statement of the problem, objectives, rationale of the study, scope of the study, literature reviews and limitations. Chapter two includes methodology of the study and study area at a glance and the relevant flowchart for conducting this study. Chapter three includes study area. Data analysis covers from chapter four to chapter six. In chapter four, the causes of water logging is analyzed. Chapter five comprises landuse change analysis and chapter six comprises economic implications of water logging. Chapter seven contains conclusion of the study.