Bangladesh Progress of Flood Reconstruction Programmes

1. Bangladesh Progress of Flood Reconstruction Programmes Presented by Ahmadul Hassan Division Head, R & D and Training/ Water Resources Planner E-mail: ahassan@cegisbd.com Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) Dhaka, Bangladesh

2. Geographical Context • Climate: • Pre-monsoon : March –May • Monsoon: June – September • Pos-monsoon: October - November • Dry season: December – February • Average Annual Rainfall: 2200-2500 mm • Average temperature : 25 – 35 oc (falls below 10 oc in winter) • Topography: • Largest delta in the world • 80% area is the floodplains of three major rivers (Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna) • Hilly area is 12 % and terrace area is 8% • Land elevation varies from –3 to 90 m MSL • More than 50% of the flood plain within 5 m MSL

3. Floods in Bangladesh Types : • Flash flood: • Rainfed flood • River flood • Flood due to storm surges Flood Classification and Probability of Occurrence

4. Floods in Bangladesh • More frequent extreme flood • Higher economic loss • More macro and micro infrastructure damage

5. Flood Measures Goal: Poverty reduction Objectives: Food security- more cereal productions, culture fisheries and reduce damages Safety – protect micro and macro investments Structural Measures: - Three types: Flood Control, Drainage and Irrigation - From 1960, about 684 numbers of large, medium and small flood control projects. - Protects 5.9 million ha out of 8 million ha flood vulnerable area - Total investment about US$ 4 billion Non- Structural Measures: - Flood zoning – difficult to implement - Flood Insurance – Currently initiated by NGOs and GOs - Early warning – FFWC forecast with 3 days lead time and planning to increase upto 10 days lead time for more preparedness at all levels Implementing Agency Medium to large : BWDB, Ministry of Water Resources Small: LGED, Ministry of Local Government Implementing Agency Early Warning : FFWC/ BWDB

8. Flood 2004 Causes - Flash flood (April): 70% excess rainfall in Northeastern region and 33% excess rainfall in Southeastern region. Sylhet, Sunamganj and Chittagang areas are affected - Flood due to storm surge (May 17-19): Chittagang coastal area is affected - River flood (July): Brahmaputra and Meghna basins received 30 %and 42% excess rainfall. River stage of Meghna at Chandpur remained 1.1 m high from danger level for 45 days. 38% area (39 districts) was very severely flooded. - Rainfed flooding (September 12 – 17): Unexpected torrential rain flooded 12 districts Figure: FFWC Model generated flood inundation map

9. Flood Damage in 2004 • Damages of Flood Control Structures • BWDB’s Initial Assessment: 6.08 billion Taka • BWDB’s assessment by Consultants: 7.8 billion Taka (US$

10. Flood Reconstruction Programmes Flood Damage CategoryI Flood protection embankments/ road II Irrigation canals / Drainage channels III Structures ( Water regulators, sluice, irrigation inlets, etc. IV River training / town protection works V Others (Guard shed, pump house, etc.) Flood Damage Priority

11. Emergency Reconstruction Programmes for Flood 2004 Total No. of Projects: 201 ABD funded: 185 GOB funded: 16 ADB financed project: Emergency Flood Damage Rehabilitation Project (component D) ABD and GOB provides 42. 8 m USD Project Duration: 3 years Short Term and Mid Term programmes are waiting for fund

12. Non-structural Measures Early Warning Implementing Agency: FFWC Coverage: 60% of river floodplain (52 locations) Lead Time: 72 houres Produce: Flood buletine and warning message Dissemination media: website, fax, mobile Plan: - Increase lead time upto 10 days - Extent coverage area upto village - Package EW more usefull and response oriented ADB considering this project called ‘Strengthening EWS in Bangladesh

13. Proposed EW Programmes

14. Benefit from Proposed EWS Programme Damage profile for Household Yearly benefit = Tk. 2,643 Million Damage profile for Infrastructure Yearly benefit = Tk. 662 Million Damage profile for Agriculture Yearly benefit = Tk. 1,708 Million

15. Conclusion • Protective structure not well maintained due to lack of O & M fund. 2.5 % normally allocated but reality 1- 1.5 % really used for maintenance. • Flood control embankments, if not maintained beyond 5-10 years, become vulnerable to extreme floods • Beneficiaries are not made responsible for maintaining and managing the structures. • No well accepted Damage Assessment Procedure in place • EW messages are not fully utilized by infrastructure managers • In addition to maintaining existing flood control measures, EWS can be utilize to reduce damage as well as O & M cost

16. Recommendations • Increase O & M fund. • Protective structure should be regularly maintained and regular inspection should carried out to ensure regular maintenance • Small flood management project should be managed by the stakeholders. • Medium and Large flood management projects should be managed by both BWDB and stakeholders. • End-to-End EWS with sufficient lead time should be taken up by the government.

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