Environment evaluation of Tangail compartmentalization pilot project

Abstract

The Compartmentalization Pilot Project (CPP) is one of twenty-six components of exhaustive Floor Action Plan (FAP) undertaken by Government of Bangladesh after disastrous Floods of 1987 and 1988. The CPP is an experiment with controlled !looding, and works with the concept of subdividing the total project area into compartments with a view to achieve better water and environmental management. If the concept works effectively, similar project would be adopted in other Flood Control Drainage and Irrigation (FCDl) projects in Bangladesh in future. The CPP study area is located in north-central region of Bangladesh, close to the left bank of the Jamuna River and bounded by Dhaleswari and Pungli Rivers. It is transected by the Lohazong River. Total area of the project is approximately 13,000 ha. While working with the subject efforts were given in collecting related reports, maps. data etc., studied and analyzed the same, discussed and exchanged views with the project officials as well as the beneficiaries. The present report is the outcome of this endeavor. The report presents an evaluation of Environmental Impact Assessment (ElA) of the CPP, TangaiL In evaluating the EIA process in the project different aspects of ElA covering study of the major fields like methodology, baseline situation, environmental components and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) were undertaken. Attempt was made to put suggestions to different findings as regards ElA of the Project. Of the different areas of baseline study, the important ones include hydrology, drainage, land resources, biological resources, human resources and hazards and risks. The important environmental components addressed cover modalities of identification of Important Environmental Components (lECs) and description of IECs. The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) addresses evaluation of Impact Management and Impact Monitoring and Reporting. The study indicates that the main beneficial impacts of the project include increase in irrigated area, improvement in agricultural production, reduction in crop damage losses, improvement in homestead security and crop production, increase in culture fish production, improvement in terrestrial habitat availability to wildlife and improvements in socio-economic factors related to agriculture. The negative impacts include reduction in agricultural crop diversity, marked declines in capture fish production and harvests, reduction in aquatic habitats and in wildlife species depending on such habitats, reduction in water-based transportation, decrease in socioeconomic parameters related to fish and fishing egg. Subsistence fishing income and fishbased nutrition and an increase in environmental contamination with pesticides and other agricultural chemicals. Inspite of the fact that the project has created some additional environmental degradation to pre-project situation, it is required that the negative impacts should also he monitored so as to ensure that the degradations are kept well within the acceptable limit. The aspects to be monitored include soil fertility, bio-diversity, agro-chemical use, pest management, homestead forestry, water pollution programme and people's participation. The monitoring plan so far undertaken has been found effective and fruitful and should be continued even in post project situation. The observed environmental enhancements in the field of reduction of flood, agriculture, employment generation, fisheries, soil, socio-economy, afforestation etc. indicate that this project is environmentally acceptable. In order to make the environmental enhancement sustainable, monitoring and evaluation of these parameters should be coIltinuously undertaken during the project period and even in the post project situation.