Megan Visk

Casey Leslie

Kristian Nikolic

Gary Barkauski

Geography Location: Southern Asia,

Bordering the Bay of Bengal Between India and Burma

Rivers Included in the FAP: Ganges, Jamuna-Bramahputra, Meghna

Source of Flooding: All Three Rivers Meet in Bangladesh

Background• Post 1954 and 1955 floods were

the turning point for studies and large investment in flood control in Bangladesh

• After devastating floods of 1987 and 1988 the Flood action Plan was created

• Rice paddy being protected by man-made embankment

Background• Post 1954 and 1955 floods

were the turning point for studies and large investment in flood control in Bangladesh

• After devastating floods of 1987 and 1988 the Flood action Plan was created

• Rice paddy being protected by man-made embankment

Goals of FAP Protect Rural Infrastructure Control Flooding Accordingly with Agriculture, Fisheries, and

Navigation Along Rivers Create Effective Management of Land and Water in the Country Increase Flood Awareness and Improve Flood Preparedness and

Disaster Management Create an Early Warning System and Flood Forecasting System Reduction of Flood Flows in Major Rivers Structures and Embankments to Protect Region Coordinate Planning of Roads and Railways with Embankments

Along with Clear Drainage of Flood Waters Create Global Awareness of Floods and Control Efforts for

Possible Relief and Monetary Efforts

Economy of Bangladesh Low Compared to Rest of

the World: Considered 3rd

World Country

30% of Population Under Poverty Line

$269.3 Billion GDP: 47th

Largest Economy in the World

$1,700 GDP per Capita: 196th in World

Continuing to Grow at Rate of 6% Annually

Economics of FAP Funded by 15 Donors, Including the World Bank

World Bank Served as Coordinator of Funds

International Aid Necessary to Fund FAP

Flood Plan Coordination Organization

Oversaw the Economic Aspect of Project

The Bangladeshi and Foreign Critics Questioned Whether the FAP was Best Use of Such a Large Amount of Money

Cost of FAP Initial Estimates: More

Than $155 Billion in Constructing Costs

Costs of Maintaining Could Cost $5-$10 Billion

FAP the Largest Development Project in Bangladeshi History

Economic Problems Plan was Drafted by World Bank, but Money

Remained the Problem

Foreign Donors Criticized the FAP

Bangladesh Cannot Afford the Maintainence Costs of the Embankments

Includes Resources Needed, Worker’s Wages, Along with Other Costs

Many Economists Worldwide Find the FAP to be Unrealistic and Too Expensive of a Project for the Government of Bangladesh to Afford

International Participation ‘88 Floods Spurred ‘89 G7 Paris

Meeting to Take Action World Bank: Organized and

Allotted Funds Given by Donors UNDP, USAID, France, Japan,

Netherlands, Germany “Extraordinary absence of formal

evaluations of floodcontrolinvestments” – James Boyce “Our century needs to build

cathedrals, otherwise we’d perish of boredom.” – Attali

Belgium and Norway Riverbed Silt Deposits Previous Embankments

Domestic Reaction Politicians See Opportunity to Increase International

Aid and Investment; Economic Development Over Tradition

Zoning the Embankments Often Split the Farmland

Fisherman Saw Drop in River Stock: 80% of Bangladeshi Protein

Shrimp Fisherman Deprived of Brackish Water

Boatmen Unable to Transport Goods, New Reliance on Rickshaws

Benefits of Construction Farming & Industry Net

Gain

“Longest linear development in the world.”

Emergence of Fish Farms

New Roads to Replace Water Routes

Double as Marketplaces, Pastures, Crop Fields, Flood Refuges

Effect on AgricultureNegative Positive

Soil fertilization

Lower crop yield

Loss of natural flood-induced pest control

Greater losses of crops during extreme flooding and embankment failure

Loss of land to embankments and roads

Reduce crop loss from flooding

Extended cropping periods & areas due to improved drainage

Irrigation

Effects on Inland Fisheries Strong Correlation

Between Fish Catch and Flood Area

Embankments Restrict Free Movement of Fish from Oxbow Lakes to River and Floodplain

Impedes Spawning, Migration, and Feeding

Reduces Diversity and Quantity of Fish

Effects on Inland Fisheries

Effect on Inland Fisheries FAP is More Balanced than Previous Flood Control

Projects

Participation of the People

Environmental Impact Assessment, Emphasizing Mitigation of Impacts on Fish

Interlinked Flood Control Compartments and Controlled Flooding

Allow for Normal Floods in a Predictable Way

Benefit Agriculture and Fisheries

Falling Apron

World Bank Conclusion “Project outcome satisfactory, sustainability likely,

though the institutional development only modest.”

“…use of the Independent Panel of Experts is effective.”

“…international competitive bidding procedures are highly advantageous.”

Works Cited Bangladesh – River Bank Protection Project Conclustion Abstract. (2002, June 20). http://www-

wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000094946_02070404010188

Best, Jim. Lecture 14: Jamuna-Brahmaputra Case Study-Flooding in Bangladesh. (2011, April 20).

http://cgz.e2bn.net/e2bn/leas/c99/schools/cgz/accounts/staff/rchambers/GeoBytes/GCSE/Case%20Studies/Case%20Study.%20Flooding%20in%20Bangladesh.htm

CIA-The World Factbook: South Asia: Bangladesh. (2011, March 8).Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publicatoins/the-world-factbook/geos/bg.html

Custers, Peter. Bangladesh's Flood Action Plan: A Critique. Economic and Political Weekly Vol. 28, No. 29/30 (Jul. 17-24, 1993), pp. 1501-1503.

Flood Action Plan, Bangladesh. (2011, April 20).http://www.banglapedia.org/httpdocs/HT/F_0104.HTM

Global Changes: 20 Million at Risk from Bangladesh Floods. (2011,April 20). http://www.global-changes.com/20-million-at-risk-from-bangladesh-floods/

Irrigation Support Project for Asia and the Near East (ISPAN) & United States Agency for International Development (USAID) (1992).Bangladesh Action Plan for Flood Control: Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment. Irrigation Support Project for Asia and the Near East. Ministry of Irrigation, Water Development, and Flood Control, Dhaka.

Paul, BK. Farmers Responses to the Flood Action Plan (FAP) of Bangladesh-An Empirical Study. World Development Vol. 23:2, pp. 299-309. Feb 1995.

Potten, David. "The Impact of Flood Control in Bangladesh." Asian Affairs Vol. 25.2 (1994): pps. 156. Sultana, P. and Paul Thompson. Effects of Flood Control and Drainage on Fisheries in Bangladesh and the Design of

Mitigating Measures. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management, Vol. 13. 1997. pp 43-55.