ADB and Netherlands offer financial support for expansion of water resource management project in Bangladesh

Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted a $45m loan for expanding the scope of Southwest Area Integrated Water Resources Planning and Management Project in Bangladesh.

The financial body will also be administering a $7m grant by the Government of Netherlands for the water resources project in the southwestern parts of the Asian country.

The original project, which was approved in 2005, has led to the renovation of decaying infrastructure and established water management agencies involving community participation.

It has been able to improve agriculture production in Bangladesh and helped more than 191,000 people.

While ADB offered $20m for the initial stage of the project, Netherlands contributed another $12.5m.

ADB South Asia Department senior resources specialist Natsuko Totsuka said: "We’ve seen considerable benefits in the project pilot areas of Narail and Chenchuri Beel already, with rice production nearly doubling and fish production rising 30%.

"This new financing will allow us to replicate the success of the project across nine nearby areas, covering 84,000 hectares, and with a population of nearly 470,000."

The expansion will be training farmers for water management services in order to help them in operating and maintaining water infrastructure, and developing integrated water management plans.

These additional funds will be used under the project to rebuild or construct new gated water retention structures and flood embankments, and for the re-excavation of clogged drainage and irrigation canals.

Expected to be completed by June 2022, the project is the first successful large-scale participatory water management scheme in Bangladesh.

In 2011, ADB had offered a $75m loan to Bangladesh to provide increased access of potable water.

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Image: The pilot project had almost doubled rice production and lead to the rise in fish output by 30%. Photo: courtesy of Asian Development Bank.