Govt approves Tk34,347cr Padma Barrage Project

The government has approved the highly discussed Padma Barrage Project at an estimated cost of Tk34,347 crore.

The approval was granted during a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) held at the Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, today (13 May).

The much-awaited Padma Barrage Project, which has an estimated price tag of Tk50,443.64 crore, is aimed at addressing water shortages in the Padma River during the dry season, revitalising the river system, and improving overall water and environmental management in the country's south-western region.

According to project documents, the barrage at Rajbari's Pangsha will store around 2,900 million cubic metres of water to strengthen water management in the south-western region.

The project aims to ensure regulated dry-season flow from January to May in the Ichhamati-Mathabhanga, Gorai-Madhumati, Chandana-Barasia, Boral, and Ichhamati river systems. It will also support water supply for the Godagari Pump House, the Ganges-Kobadak irrigation project, and the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

Water supply will be ensured for around 2.88 million hectares of cultivable land across Kushtia, Faridpur, Jashore, Khulna, Barishal, Pabna, and Rajshahi.

The project also targets 113MW of hydropower generation and plans to use the barrage deck as a multi-purpose corridor for roads, power transmission lines, and gas pipelines.

According to the proposal, the project is expected to result in an annual increase of 2.39 million tonnes in rice production and 2.34 lakh tonnes in fish production.

Employment and social impact

During implementation, the project is expected to generate around 12.25 crore man-days of employment for about 47,950 workers and create approximately 9.27 lakh direct and indirect jobs. Plans also include seven satellite towns and modern rural townships for around 1.5 lakh families across 3,450 acres.

The feasibility study estimates annual economic returns of around Tk8,000 crore and a 0.45% contribution to GDP growth based on FY25. The project is also expected to reduce salinity intrusion in Satkhira, Khulna, and Bagerhat, helping restore the ecological balance in the Sundarbans and surrounding coastal areas.

Water security and environmental protection

According to Water Development Board (WDB) officials, the project is not just an infrastructure project; it could become a central solution for water security, food security, and environmentally sustainable development in Bangladesh.

"The barrage could improve the lives of millions of people directly and indirectly, while bringing major positive changes to agriculture, fisheries, industry, and the environment," an official added.

Since the construction of the Farakka Barrage in the 1970s, upstream water diversion has significantly reduced the natural flow of the Padma River during the dry season. This has increased salinity intrusion in rivers and canals in the south-western region, adversely affecting agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and river navigation. It has also put the biodiversity of the Sundarbans under severe threat.

Strategic response to crisis 

The Padma Barrage Project covers around 37% of Bangladesh's total geographical area, spanning four divisions, 26 districts, and 163 upazilas.

WDB officials noted that dry-season flow in the Padma-Ganges system was around 70,000 cusecs before the Farakka Barrage. Since 1975, upstream withdrawal has at times reduced flow to 20,000 cusecs or less. If this situation continues, livelihoods across 20 to 25 Padma-dependent districts could face severe disruption.

In January, towards the end of the interim government's tenure, the project was sent to the Planning Commission for approval after nearly six decades of discussion.

An attempt was also made to place it before the 25 January Ecnec meeting. However, former planning adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud said approval should not be rushed, given the project's high cost.

The total estimated cost stands at Tk50,443.64 crore. However, the Project Evaluation Committee recommended a phased implementation, proposing Tk34,497 crore for the first phase. Officials said completion is tentatively scheduled for June 2033, with full financing from government resources.

On 6 May, the Planning Commission and the Ministry of Water Resources briefed the prime minister on the project and reviewed its key components. The prime minister directed the inclusion of an assessment of the project's expected GDP contribution in the proposal.

Infrastructure details 

The project includes a 2.1km long main barrage with 78 spillways, 18 undersluices, fish passes, a navigation lock, and guide embankments. Three offtake structures will be built for the Gorai, Chandana, and Hisna rivers.

For river management, 135.6km of dredging will be carried out in the Gorai-Madhumati system, and 246.46km of re-excavation will be undertaken in the Hisna system.

Officials further mentioned that the barrage would create a 165km in-stream reservoir without major additional land acquisition, opening new opportunities for tourism, fisheries, and local economic activity.

In addition to the 113MW hydropower, there is further potential for several hundred megawatts through future solar installations along both riverbanks.

Farakka impact on local rivers

The project proposal states that water flow in Bangladesh's south-west has fallen sharply since India's Farakka Barrage began operation. Under the 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, the two countries share the river's flow at Farakka from 1 January to 31 May each year. 

The 30-year treaty expires this year.

The proposal states that upstream flow reduction from the Farakka has drastically lowered the Padma's flow, harming agriculture, fisheries, forestry, navigation, water supply, and the ecosystem. 

Reduced freshwater has damaged the Sundarbans mangrove forest and its biodiversity, and high salinity in nearby rivers and canals during the dry season has caused severe stress.

Declining flow has led to silt accumulation in the Hisna-Mathabhanga, Gorai-Madhumati, and Chandana-Barashia rivers, blocking natural currents. During dry periods, most water flows directly to the Bay of Bengal, leaving inland rivers nearly dry. 

This has increased salinity, river erosion, siltation, disrupted navigation, and reduced irrigation and fisheries output. Excessive salinity has also caused widespread "top dying" in Sundarbans trees.

Feasibility studies

Bangladesh has been exploring the idea of a Ganges Barrage since the 1960s, with the first study launched in 1961 by the then EPWADA, now the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB). 

Between 1960 and 2000, four pre-feasibility studies were conducted. In 2002, the Water Resources Planning Organisation recommended that the barrage be built either at Thakurbari in Kushtia or at Pangsha in Rajbari. Detailed feasibility studies and engineering designs were later carried out between 2009 and 2016. 

Meanwhile, Bangladesh and India continued technical-level discussions. In October 2016, experts from both countries conducted joint site visits and meetings in Dhaka, followed by the creation of a joint technical sub-committee to facilitate data sharing.