Digging for Gold: How Canals Power the Economy
Canal excavation is the act of digging or cleaning out water channels. These canals move water to farms for irrigation. This process makes farming much cheaper. Farmers can spend less on electricity and fuel to pump water. It allows them to grow more crops and vegetables. This is very important because a strong rural economy helps the whole country grow. When farmers grow more food, the national economy gets a big boost. Excavating canals can bring thousands of hectares of dry land under cultivation. This helps the country become self-reliant in food production.
The Lost City: Why We Failed at Managing Water
It is hard to believe, but Dhaka once had a world-class water system. It used gravity and a smart network of canals to drain water. Much of this was lost to unplanned buildings and new embankments. Today, we are bad at water management because of rapid population growth and poor maintenance. Many canals are now filled with dirt or stolen by illegal grabbers. To solve this, we must use science and modern technology like LiDAR to find lost paths. We need to follow a long-term plan like the Delta Plan 2100. Managing water is not just about digging; it is about working with nature.
A Family Tradition: The Legacy of the Great Canal Dig
President Ziaur Rahman started the nationwide canal excavation program in the late 1970s. He wanted to transform the struggling economy into a self-reliant one. The first project actually began in Jashore in 1976. Now, his son, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is following that same path. He has launched a massive initiative to dig and fix 20,000 kilometers of canals. This is a major part of his party’s election promise. The government is already working on a target to finish 1,200 kilometers in just six months. People hope this large project will finally be completed to help the poor.
Green and Clean: Canals as the Nation’s Life Support
Cleaning canals helps the environment in many ways. It stops waterlogging and reduces the risk of floods. Better canals mean better drainage for our cities and fields. This also improves the air and the overall urban environment. When canals flow, they help groundwater recharge and support fish. A bad environment hurts economic growth by damaging crops and health. Restoring these waterways is a way to fight climate change. It turns a series of “isolated projects” into a national survival strategy. Done right, it restores the natural logic of the land.
This canal project is a bold gamble for the future. Excavating 20,000 kilometers of waterways is a massive dream for the country. If the project is done right, it could bring a “revolutionary change” to our farms and fisheries. It is about more than just moving dirt. It is about restoring the natural logic of our land.
For the ruling party, this is more than a project; it is their identity and a big election promise. They want to bring back the self-reliance started by Former President Ziaur Rahman in the 1970s. However, the project faces big risks like corruption and poor planning. Without a scientific master plan, it might just be a “waste of money”.
– Opinion | Daily ScrollDown