DHAKA: The proposed Indian riverlinking project, after its implementation, will bring about environmental disaster and worsen arsenic problems, said experts at a seminar in Dhaka on Tuesday. ??? The Bangladesh National Committee of the International Commission on Irrigation

and Drainage in collaboration with the Bangladesh Univer-

sity of Engineering and Technology organized the seminar on ?Water and Life in Bangladesh,? marking World Water Day.

The BUET vice-chancellor, Professor Mohammad Alee Murtuza, chaired the seminar. Professor Muniruzzaman Mia, Professor Ainun Nishat, Professor Asif Nazrul, and Professor Mohammad Fazlul Bari also spoke. ???

They all expressed their concern about India?s plan of withdrawing a considerable amount of water from the rivers that flow through Bangladesh. They said not only Bangladesh but also a number of Indian states would be affected by the project. ???

Professor Muhammad Ali Bhuiyan gave the keynote speech. ?It will dangerously affect environment in the countries as 230 rivers that flow down Bangladesh are at risk of drying up? ???

The speakers gave a warning that when surface water would become unavailable, people?s dependence on underground water would increase, which would worsen the problem of arsenic. ???

According to the Indian Supreme Court?s observation, the project was supposed to be implemented by 2012, but because of lack of infrastructural development, the Indian government set 2016 as the deadline for the implementation of the project. ???

Ainun Nishat suggested a concerted effort to hold talks with the Indian authorities and compel it to refrain from implementing the project.? By arrangement with New Age/ Dhaka