How much are we ready?

The environmental changes are already evident. The ground water level as gone down drastically. The northern part of the country is showing signs of desertification. Unusual rise and fall in temperature is experienced every year. The wetlands, lowlands, canals etc are encroached upon by man in the name of development and civilization almost every day. Real estate business is at its boom and non-renewable resources are being indiscriminately spent up in abundance. Therefore the natural vengeance is felt at every step. It's not only in Bangladesh, but almost everywhere. However the condition of Bangladesh is rather precarious, over population may be the single great cause. Ignorance about environment may be the next.

We have meteorological department and research centres in our country that have the capacity and capability of having prognosis and data collection facilities exchanging/gathering information with from other/neighbouring countries. But no alert has been made so far to aware the class of people whose life and living is contingent upon cultivation and agriculture. A late monsoon is palpable as experienced by the people but why a research on that did not take place to provide necessary signal to the farmers in advance and of course a guideline to follow to face such crisis. We are helpless to nature alright but not totally without tools to face the odds more or less effectively.

Our technology is still of primitive type and the so-called bumper harvest is yet a dream when most of the rest of the world enjoys that practically. It is almost history now that we had ponds, rivers abound with fish of various kinds, fields full of paddy and trees full of fruits! The scene is just turning opposite. Probably Ibne-Batuta would have felt ashamed and scrupulously changed the line of his literary work describing this part of the planet as a dry, husky, arid country rather than a green, tranquil country.

The major responsibility befalls us, because basically we have over exploited our land maliciously, due to which our sustenance is in jeopardy now. Our posterity would definitely throw the question, "is this the kind of land you were supposed to leave behind for us?" No adequate sanitation, no pure drinking water, no fresh air rather heavy burden of loan and curse of poverty forwarded to the generations to come.

Now late monsoon is our concern. Late monsoon means less rain and less water means less irrigation to the fields and ultimately lesser yields. The chain reaction would definitely cause price hike of agro-products and augment poverty. Already the upward trend of price of daily necessities is being felt by people. We cannot make arrangements for rain to occur but our most important job is water management: The most challenging topic for the millennium. The respective government agencies, NGOs associated with above matter should have earmarked possibilities and guidelines to get into the job to alleviate the crisis situation.

Therefore the important tasks can be highlighted as collection, preservation and distribution (proper use) of water.

The following can be a guideline to achieve Good Water Management:

• Objective settingbased on the needs.
• Water preservation: Statistically we should be able to find the total hectares of wet lands, low lands, ponds, lagoons, haaors, baaors, canals, rivers etc. and their capacity to hold water in cusecs that can be used for irrigation at the time of need. A comprehensive hydrographic survey is essential.
• Gap analysis: As we know most of the rivers of our country have lost their draught. The charted datum has shrunk to lowest level. Many tributaries have already silted to death. Canals, lakes, lagoons etc. are being filled up either with filth or encroached upon for human settlement. Therefore in rainy season the banks overflow and cause serious flood, people get marooned, waterborne diseases outbreak and immense miseries are experienced.
• Brain storming: Personnel from planning, agriculture, ports and shipping, geology departments as well as politicians, economists, and the common peasants can discuss the problems and probable solutions.
• Idea generation: Based on the discussion ideas like hydrographic surveys, dredging, water catchments, water treatment plants, embankments etc. are sure to come up.
• SWOT analysis: Based on our needs and wants, the internal strengths and weaknesses along with the opportunities and threats can be discussed, reviewing social and economic conditions.
• Decision making: Such discussions must lead to decisions.
• Good governance: Good governance is necessary for implementing the important decisions.
• Very friendly relationship politically and/or economically with neighbouring countries must be maintained.
• Amicable political solution in terms of water sharing: Joint River Commission can play a vital role.
• A forward looking, development oriented foreign policy is also necessary to create a win-win situation in matters of dispute resolution.

I have seen while visiting Gibraltar that it has numerous water catchments at the foot of mountain. Rain water flowing down the slope is collected in those reservoirs. During dry season water is channeled to various places for plantation and vegetation. We are lucky that we have God gifted free water, even then we suffer from its scarcity. In the Indian parliament debate took place on the issue of late monsoon. A clear picture was portrayed as to how they would face such a crisis, based on their water catchments and reserves.

We already have lost invaluable time. I hope the government agencies and the NGOs collectively can help the countrymen by just being proactive. However we must be ready with the following:

• Proper dissemination of information on causes, consequences and remedy.
• High yield seeds.
• Organic fertilizer to help revitalize the soil.
• Technical assistances.
• Water management.

Since our country is dependant on agriculture we should set priority to our demands.

Let's go back to late monsoon. Our meteorologists really need to be advance looking as weather and climate is our concern. Any deviation in nature adds extra outlays at the bottom line of the economy. Therefore the information sharing is quintessential. If we lack in very hi-tech equipments, still information can be downloaded from neighbouring countries, especially India. Regional cooperation enables access to such data. Further, periodical video conferencing can take place to share information and the interpretations. Finally training is highly crucial to update knowledge related to interpretation of weather charts, synopsis and prognosis, elucidation of satellite pictures, data processing and coordination between observatory stations. A strategic alignment process (SAP) is imperative between the knowledge existing and the technology in vogue.

We just do not want to overcome problems in the short term rather we should be ever ready to face the formidable odds boldly in changing circumstances. Economy should be able to withstand environmental shocks. Only question arises how far are we ready?

Capt. Ghazi Abu Taher, a Master Mariner (UK), MBA (UK) is Ex-Faculty, Trinity University (USA) and Royal Roads University (Canada).