Report on Char Development and Settlement Project financed by Netherlands Government
Chars along the Bay of Bengal Coast
The central part of the coastal zone of Bangladesh where major rivers flow into the Bay of Bengal is in physical terms the most dynamic part of the landmass. The huge flow of water through the Meghna/Padma river system causes loss of land through erosion. At the same time the gradual deposit of silt carried down by that same system results in the information of new land. The silt flows into the Bay and is then pushed back by tidal movements to the area in front of the coastline. It will take possibly an average of twenty to thirty years from the first deposits to the emergence of new land. In the beginning it will be just mudflats, used for fisheries. Gradually the land will be more accreted and grass will grow. When the land is higher the first crop can be planted, usually aman rice. If it is high enough, the land can be embanked to create a polder. A general rule is that this can only be done if the land falls dry at mean high water level in monsoon time. These newly accreted lands, in the different phases of development, are the chars.
According to the official policy, newly emerged land is transferred to the Forest Department for a period of twenty years for plantation and management of forests, especially mangroves. This is to accelerate accretion of land, stabilize it and to protect the main land against storms and cyclones. However, due to a huge demand on land, the victims of erosion from elsewhere, in most cases, encroached upon the newly formed land as settlers before the period of twenty years had expired. They live on the chars in a harsh environment on land that had a limited economic value yet and without any title on the land they are occupying. This has set the stage for char development activities.
CDSP’S Contribution to the development of char areas
Government sponsored interventions aimed at developing coastal chars started in an organized manner in the late 1970’s with the Land Reclamation Project (LRP), funded by the Governments of Bangladesh and The Netherlands. The land based component of LRP (that was also involved in surveys on the Bay of Bengal) was implemented in one particular area in Noakhali District, Char Baggar Dona I. This char was empoldered, while settlement through the provision of land titles and agricultural development were other major objectives.
The experiences of LRP were later applied in the first Char Development and Settlement project (CDSP I) that ran from 1994 to 1999 in three chars of the same district: Char Majid, Char Batirtek and Char Baggar Dona II. Compared to LRP, it was a much bigger area (combined ha), while two more agencies (Ministry of Land and Local Government Engineering Department) were involved in the implementation. All three previously unprotected chars were each turned into a polder. The Netherlands continued its commitment to coastal development by supporting the Bangladesh Government in CDSP I, and indeed in CDSP phases as well.
CDSP II, operational from 1999 to 2005, added elements to the basic strategy of CDSP: it was no longer confined to interventions after embanking a char, it also supported activities in unprotected lands. Another addition to the concept was the fact that development activities took place in already existing polders, not created under CDSP, as for instance polders 59/3B and 59/3C. The project area was now expanded to four Districts: Chittagong, Feni, Noakhali and Lakshmipur. From the government side the Department of Agriculture Extension and the Department of Public Health Engineering joined the three CDSP I agencies in the implementation.
The combined benefited area in LRP and CDSP I, II and III is nearly 100,000 ha, with a population of 896,000. These totals can be divided as follows: creation of new polders (18,160 ha, with 145,000 people) water management in existing polders, including drainage upstream Baggar Dona river (76,000 ha with 711,000 people) and development of unprotected areas(4,600 ha with 39,900 people).
A core activity of CDSP is the settlement of landless households on khas land in the project areas. Under CDSP I, 5785 acres were distributed among 4,450 families and in CDSP II the target was set at 10,118 acres to be allotted to 6,848 landless households. CDSP III aims at distributing around 11,000 acres to 9,500 households. The title on the land is an enormous benefit for the hither to landless population. In general a sharp increase in the monetary value of the distributed land can be observed over time.
Major physical achievements during the CDSP I and II periods were:
Agencies Involved Achievements under
CDSP-I CDSP-II
BWDB :
a) Construction and maintenance of embankment 30 km 32 km
b) Construction of Sluices 2 nos. 13 nos.
c) Construction of Closures 2 nos. -
d) Excavation/Re-excavation of drainage canal/khal 40 km 128 km
e) Excavation/Re-excavation of Secondary drainage canal 62 km -
MOL :
a) Cluster village with ponds 33 nos.
Chars along the Bay of Bengal Coast
The central part of the coastal zone of Bangladesh where major rivers flow into the Bay of Bengal is in physical terms the most dynamic part of the landmass. The huge flow of water through the Meghna/Padma river system causes loss of land through erosion. At the same time the gradual deposit of silt carried down by that same system results in the information of new land. The silt flows into the Bay and is then pushed back by tidal movements to the area in front of the coastline. It will take possibly an average of twenty to thirty years from the first deposits to the emergence of new land. In the beginning it will be just mudflats, used for fisheries. Gradually the land will be more accreted and grass will grow. When the land is higher the first crop can be planted, usually aman rice. If it is high enough, the land can be embanked to create a polder. A general rule is that this can only be done if the land falls dry at mean high water level in monsoon time. These newly accreted lands, in the different phases of development, are the chars.
According to the official policy, newly emerged land is transferred to the Forest Department for a period of twenty years for plantation and management of forests, especially mangroves. This is to accelerate accretion of land, stabilize it and to protect the main land against storms and cyclones. However, due to a huge demand on land, the victims of erosion from elsewhere, in most cases, encroached upon the newly formed land as settlers before the period of twenty years had expired. They live on the chars in a harsh environment on land that had a limited economic value yet and without any title on the land they are occupying. This has set the stage for char development activities.
CDSP’S Contribution to the development of char areas
Government sponsored interventions aimed at developing coastal chars started in an organized manner in the late 1970’s with the Land Reclamation Project (LRP), funded by the Governments of Bangladesh and The Netherlands. The land based component of LRP (that was also involved in surveys on the Bay of Bengal) was implemented in one particular area in Noakhali District, Char Baggar Dona I. This char was empoldered, while settlement through the provision of land titles and agricultural development were other major objectives.
The experiences of LRP were later applied in the first Char Development and Settlement project (CDSP I) that ran from 1994 to 1999 in three chars of the same district: Char Majid, Char Batirtek and Char Baggar Dona II. Compared to LRP, it was a much bigger area (combined ha), while two more agencies (Ministry of Land and Local Government Engineering Department) were involved in the implementation. All three previously unprotected chars were each turned into a polder. The Netherlands continued its commitment to coastal development by supporting the Bangladesh Government in CDSP I, and indeed in CDSP phases as well.
CDSP II, operational from 1999 to 2005, added elements to the basic strategy of CDSP: it was no longer confined to interventions after embanking a char, it also supported activities in unprotected lands. Another addition to the concept was the fact that development activities took place in already existing polders, not created under CDSP, as for instance polders 59/3B and 59/3C. The project area was now expanded to four Districts: Chittagong, Feni, Noakhali and Lakshmipur. From the government side the Department of Agriculture Extension and the Department of Public Health Engineering joined the three CDSP I agencies in the implementation.
The combined benefited area in LRP and CDSP I, II and III is nearly 100,000 ha, with a population of 896,000. These totals can be divided as follows: creation of new polders (18,160 ha, with 145,000 people) water management in existing polders, including drainage upstream Baggar Dona river (76,000 ha with 711,000 people) and development of unprotected areas(4,600 ha with 39,900 people).
A core activity of CDSP is the settlement of landless households on khas land in the project areas. Under CDSP I, 5785 acres were distributed among 4,450 families and in CDSP II the target was set at 10,118 acres to be allotted to 6,848 landless households. CDSP III aims at distributing around 11,000 acres to 9,500 households. The title on the land is an enormous benefit for the hither to landless population. In general a sharp increase in the monetary value of the distributed land can be observed over time.
Major physical achievements during the CDSP I and II periods were:
Agencies Involved Achievements under
CDSP-I CDSP-II
BWDB :
a) Construction and maintenance of embankment 30 km 32 km
b) Construction of Sluices 2 nos. 13 nos.
c) Construction of Closures 2 nos. -
d) Excavation/Re-excavation of drainage canal/khal 40 km 128 km
e) Excavation/Re-excavation of Secondary drainage canal 62 km -
MOL :
a) Cluster village with ponds 33 nos.
LGED :
a) Bridge/Culvert 49 nos. 109 nos.
b) Cyclone Shelters 17 nos. 25 nos.
c) Rural Road 62 km 249 km
d) Deep Tube-well 229 nos. -
e) Sanitary latrine 4000 nos.
DPHE :
a) Deep Tube-well - 320 nos.
b) Latrine - 2864 nos.
The creation of polders provides a higher security because of protection against storms and floods. Direct economic benefits are derived from the gradual desalinization of the soil and the improved water management, that make a higher cropping intensity (especially more area under Rabi and Aus crops) and use of high yielding varieties (HYV) possible; homestead production of vegetables is increased due to the flood protection; more opportunities are created for income through aquaculture. Indirectly, CDSP interventions facilitate the establishment of small businesses, while a variety of service delivery institutions, from schools and health centres to banks and bus companies are established in the chars.
Objectives and activities of CDSP II
The long term development objective is the same as formulated for CDSP II to improve the economic situation and living conditions of the population in the coastal areas of south-eastern Bangladesh, with special reference to the poorest segments of the population. The project will be working towards this objective by aiming at three specific project purpose: promotion of an institutional environment that sustains CDSP type of interventions; accumulation and dissemination of knowledge on coastal development; directly improving the economic and social situation of people in coastal chars.
Essential elements in the approach of CDSP III are poverty alleviation and integration. It follows the principles of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) by coordination of activities in several sectors and by taking into account the interests of different groups of water users. CDSP III (2005-2009) is to a great extent a phase of consolidation. The actual interventions at field level are limited, the development of Boyer Char (6600 ha) and the improvement of drainage in the upstream area of the Baggar Dona river. The full range of lessons learned in the previous phases can applied. The project will still be operation in CDSP I and CDSP II areas as well, in particular for land settlement and support to Water Management Organizations. CDSP III is also engaged with identifying future char development programmes.
Much of the institutional work is geared towards the internalization of CDSP concepts and working methods into the six implementing agencies. Emphasis in the knowledge development and dissemination component lies on monitoring the impact of project interventions of earlier phases and on linking the project data base with the Integrated Coastal Resources Database, located in the Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO).
Through a combination of interventions of the six implementing agencies, the project seeks to provide security to the approximately 9000 households that have settled in Boyer Char. Their physical security is enhanced by the construction of embankments and cyclone shelters and they are economically more secure by their legal title on the land and the improved environment for agricultural development and non-agriculture opportunities.
At a glance, the interventions by DPHE:
a) Deep Tube wells 600 Nos.
b) Sanitary latrine 8500 Nos.
c) Public toilet 20 Nos.
d) Community Pond 47 Nos.
e) Rainwater harvest 60 Nos.
In Boyer Char an NGO programme is being implemented by five local NGOs, coordinated by BRAC. The activities under this programme are complementary to those of the government agencies under CDSP III. The two development efforts do not overlap each other but rather reinforce each others objectives.
Organisation and resources of CDSP III
The project is sponsored by the Ministry of Water Resources and is implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board (lead agency), the Ministry of Land, the Local Government Engineering Department, the Department of public Health Engineering, the Department of Agriculture Extension and the Forest Department. A technical assistance team provides support to all agencies.
A unique feature of CDSP is the active cooperation between six government agencies, and the structured relationship between the government programme and the NGO activities in the same area. The coordinating body at the policy level is the National steering Committee (NSC), chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, with representatives of the parent Ministries of the implementing agencies, planning Commission, implementation and Monitoring Division, BRAC, the Royal Netherlands Embassy (observer) and the technical assistance team (observer) as members. The project Director is member-secretary. The NSC meets at least twice a year.
At project level the Project Management Committee (PMC) is the central coordinating and management body. It is headed by the project Director, BWDB. The project coordinators of the other five agencies and the project Manager of the BRAC/NGO programme are the members. The leader of the technical assistance team is the secretary. Meetings are held at least once in every three months.
Total costs for the three phases of CDSP Programme amount to approximately Taka 2900 million. The Government of Bangladesh of Bangladesh contributed roughly 20%, while the Government of The Netherlands 80%. The World Food Programme supplied 190,000 MT wheat in the CDSP II period. Of the total amount, Taka 1264 million will be spent during CDSP III.
Char development in future
Natural accretion process of land in the Bay of Bengal will continue. Demand for land to settle landless households and for other purposes is only expected to increase in the years to come. As part of CDSP III project, feasibility studies will be carried out for prospective areas where char development programmes can be undertaken in future. In total three such studies will be undertaken. Apart from a large area comprising char Nangulia, Noler Char and Caring Char, east of Boyer Char across the Hatiya River, prospective areas also onclude Urir Char and Sandwip Island, newly accreted areas northwest and southeast of Hatiya and the region south of Bhola.
Under a separate project the BWDB will carry out experiment with construction of cross dams in a number of places. Such dams are expected to accelerate the rate of land accretion. This would create even more possibilities for char development than already is the case at present.
a) Bridge/Culvert 49 nos. 109 nos.
b) Cyclone Shelters 17 nos. 25 nos.
c) Rural Road 62 km 249 km
d) Deep Tube-well 229 nos. -
e) Sanitary latrine 4000 nos.
DPHE :
a) Deep Tube-well - 320 nos.
b) Latrine - 2864 nos.
The creation of polders provides a higher security because of protection against storms and floods. Direct economic benefits are derived from the gradual desalinization of the soil and the improved water management, that make a higher cropping intensity (especially more area under Rabi and Aus crops) and use of high yielding varieties (HYV) possible; homestead production of vegetables is increased due to the flood protection; more opportunities are created for income through aquaculture. Indirectly, CDSP interventions facilitate the establishment of small businesses, while a variety of service delivery institutions, from schools and health centres to banks and bus companies are established in the chars.
Objectives and activities of CDSP II
The long term development objective is the same as formulated for CDSP II to improve the economic situation and living conditions of the population in the coastal areas of south-eastern Bangladesh, with special reference to the poorest segments of the population. The project will be working towards this objective by aiming at three specific project purpose: promotion of an institutional environment that sustains CDSP type of interventions; accumulation and dissemination of knowledge on coastal development; directly improving the economic and social situation of people in coastal chars.
Essential elements in the approach of CDSP III are poverty alleviation and integration. It follows the principles of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) by coordination of activities in several sectors and by taking into account the interests of different groups of water users. CDSP III (2005-2009) is to a great extent a phase of consolidation. The actual interventions at field level are limited, the development of Boyer Char (6600 ha) and the improvement of drainage in the upstream area of the Baggar Dona river. The full range of lessons learned in the previous phases can applied. The project will still be operation in CDSP I and CDSP II areas as well, in particular for land settlement and support to Water Management Organizations. CDSP III is also engaged with identifying future char development programmes.
Much of the institutional work is geared towards the internalization of CDSP concepts and working methods into the six implementing agencies. Emphasis in the knowledge development and dissemination component lies on monitoring the impact of project interventions of earlier phases and on linking the project data base with the Integrated Coastal Resources Database, located in the Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO).
Through a combination of interventions of the six implementing agencies, the project seeks to provide security to the approximately 9000 households that have settled in Boyer Char. Their physical security is enhanced by the construction of embankments and cyclone shelters and they are economically more secure by their legal title on the land and the improved environment for agricultural development and non-agriculture opportunities.
At a glance, the interventions by DPHE:
a) Deep Tube wells 600 Nos.
b) Sanitary latrine 8500 Nos.
c) Public toilet 20 Nos.
d) Community Pond 47 Nos.
e) Rainwater harvest 60 Nos.
In Boyer Char an NGO programme is being implemented by five local NGOs, coordinated by BRAC. The activities under this programme are complementary to those of the government agencies under CDSP III. The two development efforts do not overlap each other but rather reinforce each others objectives.
Organisation and resources of CDSP III
The project is sponsored by the Ministry of Water Resources and is implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board (lead agency), the Ministry of Land, the Local Government Engineering Department, the Department of public Health Engineering, the Department of Agriculture Extension and the Forest Department. A technical assistance team provides support to all agencies.
A unique feature of CDSP is the active cooperation between six government agencies, and the structured relationship between the government programme and the NGO activities in the same area. The coordinating body at the policy level is the National steering Committee (NSC), chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, with representatives of the parent Ministries of the implementing agencies, planning Commission, implementation and Monitoring Division, BRAC, the Royal Netherlands Embassy (observer) and the technical assistance team (observer) as members. The project Director is member-secretary. The NSC meets at least twice a year.
At project level the Project Management Committee (PMC) is the central coordinating and management body. It is headed by the project Director, BWDB. The project coordinators of the other five agencies and the project Manager of the BRAC/NGO programme are the members. The leader of the technical assistance team is the secretary. Meetings are held at least once in every three months.
Total costs for the three phases of CDSP Programme amount to approximately Taka 2900 million. The Government of Bangladesh of Bangladesh contributed roughly 20%, while the Government of The Netherlands 80%. The World Food Programme supplied 190,000 MT wheat in the CDSP II period. Of the total amount, Taka 1264 million will be spent during CDSP III.
Char development in future
Natural accretion process of land in the Bay of Bengal will continue. Demand for land to settle landless households and for other purposes is only expected to increase in the years to come. As part of CDSP III project, feasibility studies will be carried out for prospective areas where char development programmes can be undertaken in future. In total three such studies will be undertaken. Apart from a large area comprising char Nangulia, Noler Char and Caring Char, east of Boyer Char across the Hatiya River, prospective areas also onclude Urir Char and Sandwip Island, newly accreted areas northwest and southeast of Hatiya and the region south of Bhola.
Under a separate project the BWDB will carry out experiment with construction of cross dams in a number of places. Such dams are expected to accelerate the rate of land accretion. This would create even more possibilities for char development than already is the case at present.
No comments:
Post a Comment