Tk5.63 bn Muhuri Irrigation Project fails to deliver, farmers at bay

Infrastructure of the Muhuri Irrigation Project has collapsed at many places

Feni, Feb 2 – The much-sought Muhuri Irrigation Project in Feni, launched with a promise of transforming local agriculture, has failed to deliver its intended benefits due to alleged corruption, inefficiency and substandard implementation.

Implemented by the Water Development Board at a cost of Tk 562.69 crore with financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the project aimed to introduce an underground irrigation system powered by electric pumps and prepaid meters.

Despite its completion in June last year, the infrastructure has largely collapsed, leaving thousands of farmers without water and struggling to sustain their livelihoods.

Corruption and Mismanagement

Local farmers and officials claim that systemic corruption and poor project execution, rather than the floods cited by authorities, are to blame for the failure.

The project, spanning five upazilas in Feni and Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram, was divided into nine packages.

A German firm, Ludwig Pfeiffer Hoch-und Tiefbau GmbH & Co KG, secured two contracts worth Tk 157.18 crore.

Official records reveal that out of 850 planned underground pipeline schemes covering 534 kilometres, only 337 have been handed over, with just 268 operational—many of which are now severely damaged.

While the project initially aimed to irrigate 18,000 hectares of land, only around 3,000 hectares have received water so far.

Farmers Struggling Without Water

Farmers report that the irrigation system is virtually unusable, with stolen electric transmitters and prepaid meters exacerbating the crisis.

“How can the scheme function without electric transmitters? They get stolen every few days,” lamented Afsar Uddin, a farmer from Kalidaha, Feni Sadar upazila.

Another farmer, Azgar Uddin from Sonagazi, said that the prepaid meter system, intended to lower costs, has instead increased their expenses.

"Previously, we used oil-powered pumps, which were costly but reliable. This system was meant to be cheaper, but it’s costing us even more," he said.

The Water Management Federation, which oversees irrigation projects, also raised concerns. Its General Secretary, Main Uddin Kamran, claimed that while official records mention over 8,000 pumps, many have never functioned.

He dismissed the flood damage explanation as an excuse, attributing the failure to corruption and mismanagement.

Financial Irregularities

The contractor reportedly withdrew Tk 134.60 crore before abandoning the project, with Tk 16 crore remaining in deposit. Even if the company settles its dues, the government is expected to recover just Tk 6 crore.

A field visit revealed that while some infrastructure is in place, most water supply schemes are ineffective.

At Alokdia village, underground pipes have burst due to poor-quality materials.

"Many pipes broke during installation because they lacked reinforcing rods or mesh in the cement,” said farmer Nur Nabi.

Even where the system functions, it remains inefficient.

Abdul Matin, a scheme manager, reported that despite inserting money into the prepaid meter, farmers were not receiving water.

"Farmers refuse to pay because they aren't getting water. If this continues, the entire scheme will collapse," he warned.

Official Defence and Farmers’ Skepticism

Abu Tayyab, Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of Kalidaha, noted that farmers suffered major losses in the August floods.

Although the government provided fertilisers, seeds, and incentives, the lack of irrigation has hindered cultivation, worsening financial losses.

Water Development Board officials insist that repeated floods, including one last August, have severely damaged the project.

"Some schemes were functional before the August floods, and farmers had started benefiting, but the disaster disrupted operations," said former Executive Engineer Mohammad Rashed Shahriar.

Farmers and experts remain unconvinced, arguing that the project’s structural flaws and mismanagement are the real culprits behind its failure. - UNB