R&D and Training Division

The Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna rivers flows through Bangladesh. The combined flow of these rivers ranks it (delta) among the largest river systems of the world. Though Bangladesh covers only 8% of the total catchments area, it contributes to raise difficult challenges for planning and management of the water resources.

In recent years, there has been an increase in demand in the macro-level planning for analysis and assessment based on an integrated approach. This requires that the availability of and demand for resources be analyzed within a framework that includes environmental, ecological and socio-economic issues and concerns. CEGIS is working with WARPO to develop a computational framework for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), which will support the formulation, analysis and evaluation of alternative water management strategies of IWRM.

The analytical framework will provide information to planning agencies enabling them to assess and compare alternative courses of action in preparation for decision making. The IWRM framework aims to provide a structured approach based on consensus on the required information and connect three important parties or stakeholders in the planning process: resources analysts, planners and decision makers. This framework will reflect the changes in the utilization and availability of water resources and the water resources system itself. The computational framework will predict the relevant impacts on ecosystems and on the social and economic conditions of the different users of the resources and the society as a whole. The concept and its computational assumptions will be shared with other agencies involved in water management. Based on the conceptual framework, the design of the computational framework has been developed together with local and international agencies to develop its different components.

The analytical framework is not only a structured set of components and their interrelations but when visualized through a systems diagram, it also creates a structured process for its development and implementation. Analytical frameworks are situations and problem specific and thus have to be developed to meet the requirements of specific decision making contexts. These specific frameworks can be developed through a generic approach called the “steps of analysis”.

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The floods and droughts are more frequently occurs in Bangladesh. These can have cumulative impacts, each incident causing further loss of resilience both in the environment and in society. One of the major opportunities to manage the risk of natural disasters in Bangladesh is the proactive decision making to manage the assets and resources of the poorest of the poor through reliable, easily understandable long lead climate and flood forecasts.

In this regard, considerable progress has been made during the initial phase of the Climate Forecast Application in Bangladesh (CFAB) project (2000-2003). To further strengthen the climate forecast application in Bangladesh, USAID has sanctioned a multi-year (2006 – 2009) project through CARE Bangladesh entitled “Flood Forecast Technology for Disaster Preparedness in Bangladesh” for development of three-tier (1-6 months; 20-30 days and 1-10 days forecasts) forecast technology by Climate Forecast Application Network (CFAN) and transfer them to national institutions such as IWM, BMD and FFWC. The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), Bangkok, Thailand, is implementing this project.
CEGIS has been assigned to apply climate and flood forecast at selected pilot regions (five union of CARE - SHOUHARDO regions) in Bangladesh showing measurable improvements. Major tasks of CEGIS include baseline & vulnerability assessment and flood forecast dissemination & assessment of forecast applicability in pilot areas.

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CEGIS in collaboration with BRRI and BARI initiated model validation work on rice and wheat crops in their experimental fields. DRAS is being validated at the Gazipur BRRI farm for the last four years and one year at Khustia BWDB farm on rice crops. Irrigation Division of BARI completed the experiment at Dinajpur and Jessore farms on wheat crops during the year 2004-05 to 2005-06. A joint research team was formed with professionals from BRRI, BARI and CEGIS to run the experiments on transplanted aman (T-Aman), boro and wheat crops for the validation of model.

The study was conducted at the research field of RARS, Jamalpur and at the farmers' field of FSR site, OFRD, Barind, Rajshahi during the 'rabi' season of 2006-07 to test the effectiveness of DRAS model for irrigating wheat in local condition. The performance of the model was also compared with the BARI recommended wheat irrigation practice. Overall performance of the model was found comparatively better than the BARI recommended practices at both the locations. Application of net irrigation requirement as per DRAS model based on actual field data and that as per DRAS model based on reported value produced the highest yields at Jamalpur and Rajshahi, respectively. In respect of water use and water productivity, the latter performed better at Jamalpur. But in Rajshahi, irrigation based on cumulative net irrigation requirement as suggested by DRAS model based on reported value produced comparatively higher water productivity using less water. The model performance was found satisfactory for irrigated wheat cultivation. The only demerit is that, some watering options of the model need frequent irrigations.

Both the study areas Jamalpur and Rajshahi, model predicted values gave better results. So, preliminarily it can be inferred that, DRAS model can successfully be used to cultivate irrigated wheat provided that sufficient irrigation facility is available to apply irrigation as and when necessary. But still the study should be conducted for another year for improvement of the results obtained.

In the BRRI and BWDB farm experiment was conducted in two sites during T Aman and Boro season year 2006-07. At Gazipur site, the soil series of the field has been identified which has fallen under Agro-ecological region 28 (Madhupur Tract). The texture of the top and subsoil is clay loam and substratum is clay. Kushtia site has falls under Agro-ecological region 11 (High Ganges River Flood plain). The top and subsoil texture is loam and substratum is clay loam. BRRI dhan39 was chosen variety for the T Aman season and BRRI dhan29 for the Boro season and recommended cultural and fertilizer management practices were followed in growing rice.

The results obtained from the field experiments shows that the T8 has the highest yield among other treatments. This treatment was considered to allow 40% allowable depletion and irrigation scheduling was applied from the model predicted results using instantaneous data collected from the field. The results shows 9% and 7% increase of yield and water production respectively over the BRRI recommendation (T1).

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The ‘Risk Reduction System’ project is formally entitled to the ‘Vulnerability and Risk Reduction Through a Community-Based System for Flood Monitoring and Forecasting’, and known in short as the ‘Community Flood Information System (CFIS)’. It was funded by USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), Riverside Technology, inc. (RTi). And CEGIS & the Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Center (BDPC) are working to reduce future vulnerability to flood damage on Bangladesh’s floodplain. Developing and strengthening capacity at the community level, the project team is building technical expertise and empowering local communities with flood forecasting information to improve livelihoods in the floodplain communities. An operational system is providing accurate and timely information on current and forecasted flood conditions for a part of Bangladesh’s floodplain. The information is being disseminated to the local government and communities in a format that can be understood and used for flood mitigation at the community level. The Project plans include expanding the system to larger floodplain areas through demonstration and awareness-building exercises for other flood-prone communities, government agencies, and potential development partners.

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CEGIS conducted one-week training course on EIA for fifteen professional with multifarious educational background from BWDB. The following topics were covered in the EIA training course: Introduction to the concept of environment; need and place of EIA; EIA process; people’s participation in EIA; project description; environmental baseline; bounding; major field investigation; impact assessment and environmental management plan including environmental monitoring plan. The course also included a field trip to Narayangonj-Narsingdi Irrigation Project.

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The overall objective of this project was to make a detailed assessment of the present status of the natural springs that have been largely used by the indigenous people as the source of water for drinking and other uses. Identify why these springs are dying and how their deterioration impacts on drinking water and the human lives.

The specific objectives of the project are listed below:

In-depth understanding of the underlying causes of the death of the springs and its implication on drinking water, life and economy of the people in the study area;

• To identify its effects on the water technologies;
• To identify the way to prevent the loss of the springs;
• To identify the ASEH provided water technologies facing the consequences due to exhaustion of the sources; and
• To identify the burning advocacy issues and recommendation for the ASEH.

The following methods will be used during implementation of the project:

1. Understand geological relevance
2. Climate data analysis
3. Image analysis for landuse
4. Perceive peoples observation

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To augment the gas transmission capacity in meeting the increasing gas demand and expansion of gas supply facility in the north-west and south-west region of the country, Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL), a company of Pertrobangla, has undertaken 3 projects financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) for installation of Compressor Stations at Rashidpur (Muchai), Ashuganj and Elenga.

For the environmental legislation in Bangladesh, GTCL require Environmental study of the 3 places. GTCL involved CEGIS for the environmental study. A contract agreement was signed on 18 December between CEGIS and GTCL to complete the above assignment successfully.

Description of Actual Services Provided by Your Staff:

• IEE Study and report writing
• Field testing of various environmental parameters for EIA
• TEIA study and report writing
• Field survey for RP
• Report writing for RP

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Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL), a company of Pertrobangla, intends to construct gas transmission pipeline from Ashuganj to Chittagong via Bakhrabad with the loan assistance from World Bank. In this regard, GTCL require fixing route alignment of the pipeline. With this end in view, GTCL involved CEGIS for Reoute Survey, Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) studies along the selected route.

Description of Actual Services Provided by Your Staff:

• Procure and process IRS image for alignment preparation of the route.
• Total Station survey of the delineated route
• Route profile using surveyed data
• Conduct survey for Initial Environmental Examination
• Preparation of report

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