The 'splendid task' brought the Rajshahi-based organisation hails from the government as well as from locals.

BMDA awarded all its 129 officials and employees in greater Dinajpur region with enhanced salaries by giving two incentives for their laudable role in reviving the inoperative deep tube-wells.

The irrigation machines were lying out of order for years together in the region because of negligence of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).

The government undertook a Tk 34 cr project to reactivate the deep tube-wells under supervision of BWDB after a drought in 1995. The BWDB spent nearly Tk 20 cr for reactivating the deep tube-wells in five years since 1998, but failed to yield positive result.

The government detected negligence and irregularities on the part of the BWDB officials for their failure in reactivating the irrigation machines. So, the administration handed over the deep tube-wells to BMDA in January, 2003 as it (BMDA) has extensive experience as well as necessary expertise.

BMDA which earned widespread criticism in Rajshahi region for excessive use of ground water and drawing high water prices from growers in Barind areas, became successful in Dinajpur region.

The reactivated irrigation machines provided facilities to 20,456 acres of land in the region and helped fetch foodgrains worth nearly Tk 31 cr as well as promotion of 20,000 grower families last year, a BMDA press release said. The BMDA also earned Tk one cr as water bills from the growers, the press release added.

Inspired by last year's success, the BMDA undertook an ambitious programme of irrigating 50,000 acres of land and collecting Tk 3 cr water bills in the ongoing Boro season, official sources said.

Besides, BMDA has also developed water distribution system and irrigation canals that helped check misuse of water in the region.

"It is the hard work of our officials and employees that made the impossible possible", said BMDA executive director Asad-uz-Zaman adding that the government just provided the remaining project money of Tk 11 cr for its implementation.

While implementing the project, BMDA workers confronted the BWDB officials who were not happy with the handing over of their tube-wells and also the growers who pay irrigation water bills, he informed.