ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT' OF KALNI - KUSHIYARA RIVER. MANAGEMENT PROJECT, BANGLADESH

Abstract

The importance of Environmental Evaluation of water Resources project has been realized world over in view of their long-term consequences and large investment requirements, EIA can be defined as the systematic identification and evaluation of the potential impacts of proposed projects, plans, programs or legislative actions relative to the physical, chemical, biological, cultural and socio-economic components of the total environment. The objectives of the Present study are to Study the EIA methodology followed in water resources projects in Bangladesh, Assessment of environmental impacts due to project intervention in Kalni- Kushiyara River Management Project and evaluating few environmental management options for Implementation. The Kalni-Kushiyara river management project covers a gross area of 335600 ha between latitude 24°56' and 24°15'N and longitude 92°- 05' and 90° 55, E. It extends over the districts of Sylhet 'Sumanganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj and Kishoreganj. The Kushiyara Bijna — Ratna river system on the south, the old Surma-Dahuka River system and Jagannethpur — Sylhet road on the north old Surma-Baulai river system on the west and the Sylhet Kaktai village road on the east, bound the project area. Some of the majors problems faced in the project area are, river erosion, damage to boro crops by flash flood in pre —monsoon and aman crops during the monsoon, silting of beels, ponds, channels. Evaluation of this project is being attempted using two soft wares viz. FASSI (Feasibility Assessment of small scale Intervention) and JESEW (Joint-Ecological Socio —Economic Evaluation of Water Resources System). Whereas the FASSI 'software lays more emphasis on Socio- Economic Evaluation employing socio economic indicators, JESEW software incorporates more holistic evaluation of the system employing a wider framework of indicators (Ecological and Economic). Further, Measures to minimize the identification problems are also discussed.