Let The Delta Be A Delta (Hardcover)

Bangladesh is correctly known as a nodimatrik desh, meaning a country born of rivers. Most of Bangladesh comprises the delta formed by the great rivers—Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna and their tributaries and distributaries. Unfortunately, the rivers of Bangladesh are now in a general crisis.
This book offers a deep analysis of this crisis and suggests ways to overcome it. It shows that industrialization led to the Commercial approach to rivers, according to which “Any river water that passes to the sea is a waste!” In deltaic conditions, this approach led to the Cordon approach that advocates separation of floodplains from river channels through continuous embankments. Experience has however shown that the Commercial and Cordon approaches prove to be counter-productive in the end.
The book argues for the Ecological approach, which urges caution against structural intervention instead sustainable use of the river resources. In deltaic conditions, this approach leads to the Open approach that recommends opening up the floodplains to the river channels so that both can benefit from each other. The book shows how adoption of the Ecological approach can help Bangladesh protect its coastal environment and from the climate change effects. It also shows how the Ecological approach by both Bangladesh and India can help to improve relationship between them.