The document summarizes the key findings and recommendations from an FAO study on waterlogging in Southwest Bangladesh. It finds that prolonged flooding and waterlogging displaces thousands annually and affects livelihoods. The causes are identified as silt deposition raising river beds above polder levels, construction blocking minor drainage channels, and a lack of maintenance. The recommendations call for both preventative measures like improving local drainage systems and tidal river management, as well as coping strategies such as developing new livelihood options and improving housing and sanitation for those affected.

1. FAO
water-­‐related
programmes
Waterlogging
in
SW
Bangladesh

2. 1.
What
is
waterlogging
• Prolonged
flooding
–
some
permanent
• Similar
loca>ons,
same
>me
of
year
• Thousands
displaced,
livelihoods
affected
• Percep>on
it
is
geFng
worse
(more
frequent,
more
extensive)
• “Tidal
River
Management
is
the
solu>on”
but
difficult
to
implement
=>
FAO
study
–
May-­‐September
2014
(funded
by
DfID)

4. Congested
drainage
due
to
human
ac1vity
Silt
deposi1on
in
river
-­‐>
river
bed
levels
higher
than
polders
Monsoon
rain
Water
logging
2.
What
causes
it?

5. Construc1on
on
flood
plain
/
river
banks
Minor
drainage
channels
blocked
Congested
drainage
due
to
human
ac>vity
Aquaculture
blocks
flows
Minor
infrastructure
works
(Roads
,
etc)
block
flows
Silt
deposi1on
in
rivers
No
silt
inside
polders
Silt
deposi>on
in
river
-­‐>
river
bed
levels
higher
than
polders
Monsoon
rain
Water
logging
2.
What
causes
it?

6. No
applica1on
of
planning
rules
Individuals
use
Poli1cal
influence
Public
Opinion
focus
on
other
topics
as
cause
No
investment
in
modern
systems
No
applied
“Zoning”
Poor
plan/design
of
projects?
Poor
governance
of
execu1on
Construc>on
on
flood
plain
/
river
banks
Regular
maintenance
not
done
Minor
drainage
channels
blocked
Congested
drainage
due
to
human
ac>vity
Aquaculture
blocks
flows
Minor
infrastructure
works
(Roads
,
etc)
block
flows
High
silt
burden
Low
rate
of
flow
Silt
deposi>on
in
rivers
No
silt
inside
polders
Silt
deposi>on
in
river
-­‐>
river
bed
levels
higher
than
polders
Monsoon
rain
Water
logging
2.
What
causes
it?

7. 3.
Recommenda>ons
from
the
study
• For
minimising
the
extent
of
future
waterlogging…
• For
coping
be_er
when
it
happens
(addressing
the
mul>ple
threats
in
SWB;
taking
advantage
of
new
livelihood
possibili>es)

8. Preven>ng
?
Coping/
livelihoods

9. Recommenda1ons
from
water-­‐logging
study
for
SW
Bangladesh
“Preven1ng”
• Local
ini>a>ves
to
improve
water
drainage
system
(short
and
medium
term
measures)
• Drainage
advocacy
in
district
• Strengthening
district
ins>tu>ons
to
address
water
logging
• Tidal
River
Management
• Advocacy
for
cross
district
coordina>on,
to
ensure
integrated
solu>ons
to
wide
area
issues
“Coping”
• Polder
based
livelihood
improvement
schemes/Programmes
(tradi>onal
crop-­‐aquaculture)
• Innova>ve
livelihood
op>ons
in
development
of
SWB
(related
to
food
produc>on)
• Innova>ve
livelihood
op>ons
in
development
of
SWB
(non
food/
for
landless)
–
inclusion
of
“hard
core”
vulnerable
• Develop
market
chains
in
SWB
• Investments
to
improve
housing
and
shelter
• WASH
improvement

10. Thankyou