Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) is reportedly charging high prices for irrigation in the region, where a drought-like situation coupled with power crisis is all set to decimate the Boro production by at least 10 percent this year.

The BMDA that enjoys an average of Tk 50 crore in government subsidy a year is collecting around Tk 100 for an hour of irrigation using a deep tube-well.

Besides, CARB, a local NGO owned by the BMDA executive director, is also exploiting the farmers' plight for profiteering by selling irrigation water at twice the rate of the BMDA in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi, sources alleged.

The Barind region consists of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon districts. A senior BMDA official said they had already informed the agriculture ministry of their apprehension of a 10 percent reduction in Boro harvest in the region this year following the irrigation exigency.

Abu Bakar Siddique, a farmer of Jotefatur village, said they were being compelled to buy water at high rates, as there was no alternative.

Mobarak Hossain of Amtali in Godagari has cultivated Boro on five acres of land. "I could water my land only 10 times, instead of the required 18 times for a sufficient irrigation. If two more weeks go with such scanty irrigation, my paddy will dry up in the fields."

The BMDA buys power from Power Development Board at Tk 1.86 per unit and a BMDA deep tube-well consumes power worth Tk 25 to Tk 30 per hour to pump up water, sources said. Adding overhead and other expenditures to that, the total cost for running a BMDA deep tube-well remains below Tk 40 per hour, they added.

During a field visit, the CARB personnel were found setting up power generators connected to BMDA deep tube-wells at Sarmongla in Godagari upazila and charging Tk 172 for an hour of irrigation during load-shedding hours.

Alam Pramanik, a peasant of Saranjai union in Tanore, said, "The cost of Boro cultivation this year is Tk 2,800 per bigha that includes water charges at Tk 100 per hour. The average production this year is likely to be limited to eight maunds per bigha, which means farmers will get a return of Tk 2,400 per bigha if the price of rice is Tk 300 per maund."

Asked about the so high charges, BMDA Executive Director Asaduzzaman told reporters that water charges varied between Tk 75 and Tk 90, saying nonchalantly, "The charges are quite reasonable considering the services."

On the allegation of taking Tk 100 for an hour of irrigation, he said investigation was on to look into the matter. He also claimed no power generators were used to irrigate Boro lands.

But, CARB Programme Director Zakir Hossain admitted that they were providing power generator facility to the BMDA deep tube-wells during load-shedding hours, but completely free of charge. "The tube-well operators might have been taking the money," he guessed.

According to sources, the BMDA earned Tk 2.50 crore profit providing irrigation services through 5,964 deep tube-wells in Barind region last year.