BARIND AREA,NW BANGLADESH

DROUGHT, GROUNDWATER SCARCITY

AND ADAPTATION MEASURES
 Groundwater based irrigation directed to
cultivate high-yielding rice during dry season in
South Asia
 Bangladesh:
 World’s 4th largest rice-producing country
(Scott and Sharma, 2009 and IRRI, 2010)
 More than 75% water for irrigation comes
from groundwater
 Drought common in NW Bangladesh especially
when monsoon curtailed
 India BANGLADESH
India

AND
BARIND AREA
DROUGHT-PRONE AREAS IN BANGLADESH
 BARIND AREA
 Agro-based drought prone NW Bangladesh –
granary, where agricultural practices depend mostly
on groundwater irrigation
 BIADP launched in late 80’s of last century to
achieve sustainable agricultural growth in Barind
area covering 7,500 km2
 Multi-cropping agricultural practices boosted crop
intensity from 117% (pre-BIADP) to 200% (at
present) (national avg. 175%)
 Scope for 8728 DTW of 2-cusec capacity (BMDA),
presently running ~15000 DTWs
 Demand of groundwater irrigation increases day by
day
 PHYSIOGRAPHY

 Landforms:
 Barind Tract
 Floodplains

 Barind Tract
 N-S dome shaped area (20-
25 km wide in E-W direction)
 Edged parallel to river
valleys
Elevation 47.0 m in central
part to 11.0 m in the SE PHYSIOGRAPHIC MAP
 CLIMATE SCENARIO

Three seasons:
 Winter (Nov-Feb) - Cool & dry with almost no
rainfall
 Pre-monsoon (Mar-May) - Hot & dry
 Monsoon (Jun-Oct) - Rainy
 RAINFALL PATTERN

 Annual Avg. Rainfall (1971-2011):

1326 -1650 mm (avg. 1505 mm)

 Seasonal Mean Rainfall

 Winter: 36 mm (2.4%)
 Summer: 220 mm (12.6%)
 Rainy: 1248 mm (83%)

Distribution of Annual Rainfall

 RAINFALL TRENDS
 Decreasing trend in annual rainfall (MK Z = -0.75)
 Slope: Q = -2.76 mm/year
Trend in Annual Rainfall
 TRENDS IN SEASON RAINFALL
Trend in Winter Season

 In 15 rain gauge
stations, negative Trend in Summer Season
trends found in
 Winter: 73%
 Summer: 53%
 Rainy: 60%
Trend in Rainy Season
 TRENDS IN MONTHLY RAINFALL
MK Z Statistics
Stations Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Rajshahi -1.07 -1.78 0.40 -0.60 0.57 0.28 -1.24 -0.78 -0.35 -0.30 -1.05 -1.36
Tanore -1.02 -0.55 0.83 -0.31 0.24 -0.36 -0.69 0.39 0.44 0.82 -0.27 -1.15
Godagari -0.75 -1.35 0.99 -0.56 0.53 0.93 -0.28 -1.19 -0.17 -0.15 -1.32 -0.92
Bholahat -0.21 0.49 1.34 0.54 0.81 0.92 -0.74 0.01 -0.34 0.44 -0.21 -1.16
Nachole 0.45 -0.75 1.93 0.00 -0.95 1.63 -0.24 -0.64 -0.08 -1.03 -0.31 -0.06
Nawabganj 0.23 -1.21 0.68 0.58 0.54 1.44 1.67 -0.35 1.12 0.19 -1.01 -0.98
Rohonpur -0.55 -2.13 0.77 -0.03 0.56 1.64 -2.20 -0.94 -1.44 -0.25 -0.52 -2.49
Shibgonj 0.01 -1.21 2.16 0.00 -0.10 0.24 -0.08 -1.70 -0.25 -0.46 -0.24 -0.62
Atrai 0.22 -1.38 1.57 0.19 -1.21 -0.15 -0.86 -0.81 -0.66 -0.06 -1.41 0.52
Badalgachi -0.79 -1.97 0.58 0.49 -0.98 0.69 -2.01 -0.20 -1.07 0.13 -0.42 -1.16
Manda 0.04 -0.73 1.36 0.66 1.39 1.54 -0.57 0.46 0.48 0.93 0.77 -0.94
Mahadebpur -1.64 -2.02 0.50 -0.92 -0.55 0.03 -2.59 -0.21 -0.80 0.26 -1.85 -2.09
Porsha -1.01 -1.89 0.65 -0.69 -0.99 1.77 -0.95 -0.06 -0.90 0.75 -0.19 -1.96
Naogaon -0.71 -1.76 0.44 0.42 0.15 0.56 -1.44 -0.45 -0.31 -0.10 -1.16 -1.23
Sapahar -0.78 -1.26 -0.41 0.26 -0.78 2.44 -2.55 1.02 0.10 0.85 0.16 -2.13
Negative 10 14 1 6 7 2 14 11 11 7 13 14
Positive 5 1 14 7 8 13 1 4 4 8 2 1
%Negative 66.7 93.3 6.7 40.0 46.7 13.3 93.3 73.3 73.3 46.7 86.7 93.3
%Positive 33.3 6.7 93.3 46.7 53.3 86.7 6.7 26.7 26.7 53.3 13.3 6.7

Alarming Situation for Mid Monsoon Period

 RAINFALL VARIABILITY

Rainfall Variability Map  Annual & seasonal rainfall

variability very high
 Indicate high uncertainty of
getting rain water :
 Annual: 26%
 Winter: 100%
 Summer: 54%
 Rainy: 27%
Results frequent droughts

Difficult for Water Management Plan in High Rainfall

Variable Area (as rainfall getting uncertainty over 20%)
 SEASONALITY INDEX (SI) & CHANGES
SI Index Trend in SI

 SI Indices:
0.84-0.89 (Avg. 0.87)
Rainfall markedly
seasonal with long dry
season

 93% rainfall occurs: May-

Monthly Rainfall Pattern
Oct with certainty from
Jun. - Sep.
 Area receive 39% less
rainfall than national avg.
(2456 mm)

Rainfall scarce area in Bangladesh

 PRECIPITATION CONC. INDEX (PCI)
Distribution of PCI

 PCI:
 18.26-21.42 (Avg. 19.84)
 Indicates irregular to
strongly irregular
distribution of rainfall
 Higher value reveals huge
pressure on water
resources

SI and PCI indicate rainfall occurred

in few months with short rainy days
making water scarce area
Annual Mean Temp Distribution
Temperature

Annual Mean Temp. Anomaly

 Annual mean temp.: 25.23⁰C

 Increases at +0.02°C/year
Annual Mean Humidity Distribution
Humidity
Trend in Humidity

 Mean Annual Humidity:76.49%

 Annual magnitude of change: 0.09%
 Drought and ENSO Phases (El Niño and La Niña)
SPI-3 Series in Study Area

 SPI-3 (Agricultural Drought): Twelve Moderate - Extreme drought :

1972, 1975, 1979, 1982, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1994, 2003, 2005, 2009 & 2010
SPI-6 Series in Study Area

 SPI-6 (Meteorological Drought): Twelve Moderate - Extreme

droughts: 1972, 1975, 1979, 1982, 1986, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2005, 2009
& 2010
SPI-12 Series in Study
Area

 SPI-12 (Hydrological Drought): Moderate-Extreme droughts: 1972,

1975, 1976, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2008, 2009 & 2010
In Bangladesh, seasonal average rainfall shows:
 Negative general tendency during strong El
Niño years
 Relation between rainfall variability and
ENSÕ index very high in Ganges basin

In Barind area:
 75% Historical drought events related
to El Niño variability
 ANNUAL DROUGHT OCCURRENCES
 With increasing severity of drought, high drought occurrences
shift toward south & central parts of area

Southern & central parts of Barind area, mostly

affected by hydrological drought puts stress on
groundwater resources
 DROUGHT DURING RAINY SEASON

 Drought trends increase during rainy season

results:
 Agricultural drought: 61%
 Meteorological drought: 59%
 Hydrological drought: 50%

Critical reproductive stages of T. Aman

rice with reducing yield
 DECADAL DROUGHT EVENTS

 Dry episodes:
 Highest in recent decade
 Mild & Moderate drought:
 Increases rapidly in rainy
& summer seasons
Severe & Extreme drought:
 Fluctuating

Cumulative Decadal Drought Events

 DROUGHT RISK
Drought Frequency (year)
Category
Agricultural Meteorological Hydrological
Mild 2.2 2.3 2.6
Moderate 10.3 13.7 6.8
Severe 5.9 4.6 8.2
Extreme 8.2 20.5 8.2

Class B: Moderate-High risk condition &

should be addressed by adaptation
 ARIDITY INDEX
Area belongs to humid zone and semi-aridity
creeping towards Northern part

Classification of Aridity Index

(range values in parenthesis for humid zone) Aridity
District Upazilla
  P/PET (>0.5) AL (>40) Zone
1980-90 1991-09 1980-90 1991-09 1980-90 1991-09
Rohonpur 42.81 38.48 0.9 0.88 60.14 53.37

Shibganj 41.35 45.41 0.88 1.04 57.79 62.96

Chapai- Nawabgan 35.1 41.87 0.73 0.96 49.3 58.07
Nawabganj j

HUMID
Nachole 42.3 42.72 0.89 0.98 59.42 59.25
Bholahat 49.5 42.19 1.04 0.97 69.54 58.51
Porsha 42.7 49.07 0.89 1.12 59.99 68.06
Naogaon
Shapahar 43.55 42.66 0.91 0.98 61.18 59.16
Godagari 43.1 37.82 0.9 0.87 60.55 52.46
Rajshahi
Tanore 44.64 47.61 0.93 1.09 62.71 66.02
 ET VALUES (mm/day) FOR CROPS
Chapai-Nawabganj and Rajshahi districts Naogaon district
Months ETBoro ETWheat ETPotato ETBoro ETWheat ETPotato
Jan 2.79 2.785 3.0 2.75 2.74 3.13
Feb 4.17 0.945 3.81 3.94 0.89 3.77
Mar 5.90 ** ** 5.53 ** **
Apr 7.13 ** ** 6.53 ** **
May ** ** ** ** ** **
Jun ** ** ** ** ** **
Nov ** 0.845 1.785 ** 0.815 1.725
Dec ** 1.74 2.275 ** 1.65 2.17

 ETcrop values for:

Paddy (Boro) as dominant crop > Wheat & Potato

 Cultivated areas of rice:

 Aman (78%), Boro (67%) and Aus (47%)
GROUNDWATER
SCENARIO
 GENERAL ANNUAL TREND OF GWT

Nachole Tanore

Sapahar
Godagari

Recent declining rate higher than earlier.

After 2002-2004, GWL not return to original level
 ANNUAL MAX. DEPTH TO GWT
 1991: GWT was near suction limit
except central part (Avg. depth
8.76 m)
 2010: GWT mostly below suction
limit (Avg. depth 12.95 m)

1991 2010

People not getting drinking water by HTW and

now use submersible pumps for drinking water
 TREND OF GWT (SUMMER SEASON)
 Linear Trend shows decreasing trend in GWL
 MK Test Z = 4.96 (at 99% CL)
 Slope Q = 0.201 m/year (0.7 ft)

MAKESENS MODEL IN DRY SEASON GWT

 Analysis of 73 monitoring wells data shows trend of GWT:

 Significantly declining (84%)
 Insignificant declining (11%)
 Increasing trend (5%)
 GWT SCENARIO (SUMMER SEASON)
BY MAKESENS MODEL
MAKESENS: Intercept MAKESENS :Slope Linear Slope

a b

Very High Decreasing Rate in Barind Area

(0.7-0.8 m/year or 2.30 ft/year)
 PROJECTED SCENARIO OF GWT (SUMMER SEASON)
(DEPTH TO WATER TABLE)

2020 2030

 2020: 4.58-39.9 m
(mean: 15.44 m)
 2030: 4.58-46.83 m
(mean: 17.31 m)
 2040: 4.58-53.76 m
2040 2050 (mean: 19.17 m)
 2050: 4.58-55.61 m
(mean: 21.04 m)
 TREND OF GWT (RAINY SEASON)
 Linear Trend shows decreasing trend in GWL
 MK Test Z = 4.51 (at 99% CL),
 Slope Q = 0.201 m/year (0.7 ft.)

MAKESENS MODEL OF WET SEASON GWT

 Analysis of 73 monitoring wells data shows trend of GWT:

 Significant declining (74%)
 Insignificant declining (21%)
 Increasing trend (5%)
 GWT SCENARIO (RAINY SEASON)
BY MAKESENS MODEL
MAKESENS: Intercept MAKESENS: Slope Linear Slope

Higher decreasing rate of GWL in central part of

Barind area (0.6-0.7 m/year or 2.13 ft/year)
PROJECTED SCENARIO OF GWT (RAINY SEASON
2020 2030 )

(DEPTH TO WATER TABLE)

 2020: 1.36-27.14 m
 2030: 1.36-34.58 m
2040 2050  2040: 1.36-42.02 m
 2050: 1.36-49.49 m
GROUNDWATER TABLE DEPLETION (1991-2010)
Dry Season Rainy Season Average

 Depletion of GWT (1991-2010):

Dry season: 12-22 m
Rainy season: 8.5-14 m
Central Barind area: Avg. 9-14 m
Floodplain area: Avg. 4-6 m
 AMOUNT OF GROUNDWATER DEPLETION

 Annual avg. amount of

groundwater depletion
(1991-2010): 114 Mm3
 Average total annual
rainfall: 11000 Mm3

So 1-2 % annual rainfall must be harvested

to protect GWT depletion (High Barind: 2-3%)
 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RAINFALL & GWL

 Decreasing rate of rainfall: 1991-2011 > 1971-2011

Decreasing trend in rainfall consistent with

progressively declining trend of GWT
RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN GWT & SPI

 In general annual avg.

& annual min. depth of
GWT influenced by SPI
values of rainy season

In Barind Area,
changes in SPI values
coincided with
changes in depth of
GWT
 IRRIGATED AREAS
 Total irrigated areas by PPs, STWs and DTWs:
 5,29,000 acres (1993-94)
 17,78,000 acres (2011-2012)
 Total 23,565 hectares of land (6.72% of total irrigated
area) can be irrigated by surface water resources in
Barind area

Condition worsening due to increasing irrigated areas

 GROUNDWATER RECHARGE vs. NIR

 Comparison between NIR for paddy (Boro), wheat &

potato, NGR, PGR & UGR reveals:
 NIR of paddy (Boro) exceeds PGR
 Cultivation of Boro rice: 62% of cultivated area
Production of rice over years increase that
helps country to ensure food security
Declining trend of GWT (Summer and Rainy Seasons)
indicates:
 Groundwater resource depletion and depth GWT
will be almost double by 2050 than present
situation
 So groundwater will be scarce in forth coming
days resulting unsustainable resource for
development
 People will have to replace normal pumps by
submersible pumps even to get drinking water
 Ultimately hamper ecological balance of area
Stress on groundwater resource will increase day
by day & becomes acute with extension
of irrigated agriculture along
with climate variability
ADAPTATION
MEASURES
SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF MAR TECHNIQUE
 FEATURES OF RECHARGE STRUCTURE
 Installed: November, 2013
 Total catchment (roof of corrugated iron): 200 m2
from where rainwater from roof is used to recharge
aquifer through pipes
 Recharge points in each village: Five and rainwater
from roof used to recharge aquifer through pipes
 Rainwater before injecting into recharge structure:
Makes free from silt and debris
 Recharge box: 1.5 m × 1.5 m size filled with sand and
brick cheeps of 6 mm, 10 mm and 20 mm sizes
 Depth of recharge box: 3 m in top clay layer (Zone-I)
 GWT monitoring well diameter: 15.25 cm
ENGINEERING ASPECT OF RWH

Recharge Box

Observation Well Rain Gauge

Station

Interior of Recharge Box

RWH: Sharing with People

 GROUNDWATER TABLE FLUCTUATION
BEFORE MAR APPLICATION

Average GWT depth (m) in Nachole Area

Max Min GWTF
Avg.(91-95) 14.6 5.2 9.4
Avg.(96-00) 17.2 4.8 12.4
Avg.(01-05) 18.1 6.7 11.7
Avg.(06-10) 18.9 12.2 6.5

Till 2004, GWT came back to its original position,

but after that fluctuation of GWT remained at minimum level
due to inadequate groundwater recharge with prevailing
drought condition in Barind Area
 GROUNDWATER TABLE FLUCTUATION
AFTER MAR APPLICATION

Mallickpur Village Ganoir Village

Year Max, m Min, m Max, m Min, m
2014 13.66 5.80 34.13 26.00
2015 09.88 5.5 32.66 25.7

After MAR Application situation started to reverse, GWT

rising in response to artificially augmented recharge
 CHIMISTRY OF GROUNDWATER
Pre-MAR Post-MAR WHO(2008) / BDWS(2004) /
Physical Parameters

Technique Technique EU (1998) / ECR(1997)

Remarks
Standard
pH 6.9-7.2 7.1 Neutral Type Permissible quality
EC s/cm 519-675 500 Moderately saline Safe for drinking purpose and
irrigation on almost all soils
Temp.0C 25.5-26.0 26.0

Ca2+ mg/l 46.4- 72.5 36.2

Fetotal mg/l 0.48-1.29 1.16

Chemical Constituents

SO42- mg/l 0.5-0.6 0.6 Within drinking and irrigation

quality standard
PO4- mg/l 0.40-0.50 0.30

NO3- mg/l 05.0-08.0 0.50

As mg/l 0.01 0.01 Free from toxicity Free from hazard

Fecal Coliform Nil Nil Safe for drinking purpose

Quality of Groundwater before and After MAR is Safe for Drinking & Irrigation
WELL RECHARGE MODEL FOR RWH

Single Chamber
Model for
Mondumala
Pourashova
Building, Tanore
 CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF WELL
RECHARGE TECHNIQUE FOR RWH
IN MONDUMALA POURASHOVA BUILDING
 DUG WELL RECHARGE FOR RWH
Dug well recharge for RWH in
Kakon Hat Pouroshova and Auditorium Building
 CONSTRUCTED CROSS DAM SITE FOR
SURFACE WATER CONSERVATION IN
GOBRATALA AREA, CHAPAI-NAWABGANJ
Catch Water Where It Falls

THANKS