Impact of Irrigation in Barind Area, NW Bangladesh - An Evaluation Based on the Meteorological Parameters and Fluctuation Trend in Groundwater Table

The Barind Integrated Area Development Project (BIADP), NW Bangladesh launched in late eighties of last century boosted cropping intensity from 117% in pre-BIADP to about 200% at present. Increasing trend of rainfall for the period 1980-2006 in the southern portion had a positive impact on BIADP, but in the northeastern part, reverse trend is indicated. The groundwater outflow from the central part following the surface gradient is indicative of effluent drainage characteristics. Although rainfall has increased in the southern part, there has been progressive decline in groundwater level due to increase in irrigation demand. In the northern part there has been decline in groundwater level due to less resource potential. The PET, ET_crops and net irrigation requirement generally has decreased from pre- to post- Project implementation stages and rainwater has been the supplementary irrigation resource and thus dependency on groundwater has been reduced with exception in northwestern part. While the southern part is marching towards humid condition, north is creeping towards semi-aridity. Proper groundwater resource management with ecological balance is warranted for the sustainability of BIADP.