# Muhuri Project
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{{Short description|Irrigation project and tourist spot in Bangladesh}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
thumb|Water hyacinths on the Feni River at Muhuri Project
The '''Muhuri Irrigation Project''' ({{Langx|bn|মুহুরী সেচ প্রকল্প}}), commonly referred to as the '''Muhuri Project''', is Bangladesh's second-largest [irrigation](/source/irrigation) project. It comprises a [closure dam](/source/Barrage_(dam)) and water control structure, positioned at the confluence of the [Feni](/source/Feni_River), [Muhuri](/source/Muhuri_River), and Kalidas-Pahaliya rivers. This project plays a pivotal role in facilitating irrigation and managing floods across areas in [Feni](/source/Feni_District) and [Chittagong](/source/Chittagong_District) districts.
The project was completed during the [fiscal year](/source/fiscal_year) 1985–86. The surrounding area, featuring artificial water bodies, forestry, bird watching hotspots, and fish farms, has become a notable tourist destination, drawing visitors from across the country. The project area also includes the country's first [wind power plant](/source/Wind_turbine) and the largest fisheries zone in Bangladesh.
==Geographical location==
=== Irrigation project ===
The irrigation project influences an area between coordinates {{coord|22.45|N|91.21|E}} and {{coord|23.09|N|91.35|E|}}, encompassing the upazilas of [Feni Sadar](/source/Feni_Sadar_Upazila), [Chhagalnaiya](/source/Chhagalnaiya_Upazila), [Parshuram](/source/Parshuram_Upazila), [Fulgazi](/source/Fulgazi_Upazila), and [Sonagazi](/source/Sonagazi_Upazila) of Feni District as well as parts of Mirsarai Upazila of Chittagong District in the south-eastern region of Bangladesh, adjacent to the coast of the [Bay of Bengal](/source/Bay_of_Bengal).[{{Cite web |title=Muhuri Irrigation Project |url=https://imip-bwdb.com/?page_id=229 |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=Irrigation Management Improvement Project, Bangladesh Water Development Board |language=en}}]
=== Dam ===
The Muhuri Dam, officially called Feni River Closure Dam,[{{Cite web |date=14 October 2022 |title=মুহুরী প্রজেক্ট ভ্রমণের আগে যা জানা জরুরি |trans-title=Things to know before traveling to Muhuri Project |url=https://www.jagonews24.com/travel/article/802046 |access-date=18 April 2024 |website=Jagonews24 |language=bn}}] and seasonally holds the river water for irrigation purposes. During early winter, the dam is closed, forming a substantial lake. As the monsoon approaches, the sluice gate is opened to release water.[{{Cite web |last=Kabir |first=Ihtisham |date=2018-03-24 |title=Muhuri Dam |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/muhuri-dam-1552675 |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}][{{Cite web |last=Haque |first=Enamul |date=2021-02-27 |title=Death at Muhuri Dam: Killer with a shotgun and some shame |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/feature/panorama/death-muhuri-dam-killer-shotgun-and-some-shame-208165 |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}}]
== Background ==
In the southeastern region of Bangladesh, the Feni River, the Muhuri River, and the Kalidas-Pahaliya River converge and flow into the Bay of Bengal. The area faced challenges such as [saline intrusion](/source/Saltwater_intrusion), flooding during the wet season, and freshwater loss in the dry season. This project aimed to develop agricultural land covering approximately {{Convert|27000|ha|km2}} in the tidal zone of the Feni (then part of [Noakhali](/source/Noakhali_District)) and Chittagong districts.[{{Cite thesis |last=Stroeve |first=F. M. |title=The Feni-river closure dam reviewed |date=1993 |access-date=18 April 2024 |degree=Masters |publisher=Delft University of Technology |url=https://repository.tudelft.nl/islandora/object/uuid:1c3fa642-1984-4bb3-805b-75d7940a81fb/datastream/OBJ/download}}]
Work on the Muhuri Irrigation Project commenced in the fiscal year 1977–78 and concluded in the 1985–86 fiscal year, marking it as the second-largest irrigation initiative in Bangladesh. Its purpose was to mitigate flood risks during the [monsoon](/source/monsoon) season and enhance irrigation resources for the [''aman'' crop](/source/Rice_production_in_Bangladesh) across several [upazila](/source/upazila)s (sub-districts) in Feni and Chittagong districts.[{{Cite book |title=Present State of Folklore in Feni District |date=June 2014 |publisher=[Bangla Academy](/source/Bangla_Academy) |isbn=978-9840758531 |editor-last=Khan |editor-first=Shamsuzzaman |series={{translit|bn|Bangladesher Lokaja Sangskriti Granthamala}} |location=Dhaka |pages=37–38 |language=bn |script-title=bn:ফেনী |trans-title=Feni |editor-last2=Hossain |editor-first2=Md. Altaf}}] The key solution to address the aforementioned challenges was the construction of the Feni River Closure Dam, which enabled the storage of freshwater and prevented flooding and saline intrusion. [Haskoning](/source/Royal_HaskoningDHV), a Royal Dutch Consulting Engineers firm, was tasked with designing and supervising the construction of the dam in January 1983, erecting a significant water control structure comprising 40 gates across the downstream [confluence](/source/confluence) of the Feni River, Muhuri River, and Kalidas-Pahaliya River.[{{Cite report |url=https://repository.tudelft.nl/islandora/object/uuid:f90072d8-fc5a-4b0a-922d-9d49a4c3f16d/datastream/OBJ/download |title=Report on the construction of the Feni River Closure Dam |last=Slaa |first=G. te |date=August 1985 |publisher=Bangladesh Water Development Board |access-date=18 April 2024 |via=}}] Funding from [CIDA](/source/Canadian_International_Development_Agency), [EEC](/source/European_Economic_Community), and the [World Bank](/source/World_Bank), along with support from the Japanese company [Shimizu](/source/Shimizu_Corporation), facilitated the construction at a cost of {{BDTConvert|168|c}}. Consequently, irrigation facilities were extended to {{Convert|20194|ha|km2}} of land, with an additional {{Convert|27125|ha|km2}} receiving supplementary irrigation provisions.[{{Cite report |url=http://waterresources.mowr.gov.bd/knowledgebase/download_zip/956/ |title=Revised Initial Environmental Examination: Irrigation Management Improvement Project |date=June 2021 |publisher=Bangladesh Water Development Board |location=Dhaka |access-date=18 April 2024 |format=ZIP}}]
In June 2014, the [Executive Committee of the National Economic Council](/source/Executive_Committee_of_the_National_Economic_Council) approved the Irrigation Management Improvement Project for Muhuri Irrigation Project with a budget of {{USD|46 million}}.[{{Cite web |last= |date=17 June 2014 |title=দুই হাজার কোটি টাকার ছয় প্রকল্প অনুমোদন |trans-title=Six projects approved at a cost of 2,000 crore takas |url=https://bangla.bdnews24.com/economy/article805126.bdnews |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=[bdnews24.com](/source/bdnews24.com) |language=bn}}] This project, aimed at enhancing and modernising the irrigation system, received funding from the [Asian Development Bank](/source/Asian_Development_Bank), supplemented by an additional {{USD|13.5 million}} concessionary loan. The project targets the repair of {{Convert|17|km}} of coastal [embankments](/source/Embankment_dam) and the re-excavation of over {{Convert|400|km}} of canal drains by 2024. It also plans to introduce a prepaid [metering](/source/Metering_pump) system using electric pumps and underground pipelines to reduce water loss. This effort aims to mitigate flooding during [monsoon](/source/monsoon)s and expand the dry-season irrigation area of the Muhuri irrigation system by 60 percent to {{Convert|18000|ha|km2}}. Following project implementation, it is anticipated that the average yield of irrigated [''boro'' paddy](/source/Rice_production_in_Bangladesh) will increase to four tons per hectare of land, up from three tons in 2013. Furthermore, the project aims to ensure that at least 2 percent of pump operators, 5 percent of mobile water unit vendors, and 5 percent of project construction workers are women.[{{Cite web |date=2021-12-23 |title=ADB extends $13.5 million additional loan to modernise irrigation |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/adb-give-135-million-additional-loan-modernise-irrigation-2924076 |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}][{{Cite web |date=2021-12-23 |title=ADB increases irrigation loan |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/adb-increases-irrigation-loan-347854 |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}}][{{Cite news |date=29 September 2022 |title=দেশের প্রথম বায়ু বিদ্যুৎ কেন্দ্র দেড় বছর ধরে বন্ধ |trans-title=Country's first wind power plant closed for a year and a half |url=https://www.jugantor.com/country-news/600357/%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%AE-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%81-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%81%E0%A7%8E-%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A7%9C-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%9B%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7 |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=[Jugantor](/source/Jugantor) |language=bn}}][{{Cite news |date=5 July 2018 |title=এক যুগেও চালু হয়নি দেশের প্রথম বায়ু বিদুৎ কেন্দ্র |trans-title=Country's first wind power plant not activated in 12 yrs |url=https://www.jagonews24.com/country/news/437672 |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=Jagonews24 |language=bn}}]
== Industries ==
=== Fish farming ===
The Muhuri Project area stands out as the largest fisheries zone in Bangladesh, contributing significantly to the country's economy through substantial annual revenue. Local residents engage in fish farming by constructing enclosures along the embankments within the area. Numerous fishing villages have emerged in the region, supporting thousands of livelihoods, including previously unemployed youth, through fish harvesting. Furthermore, numerous reputable institutions have established commercial fish projects on 7,000 acres of land, encompassing approximately 500 [fisheries](/source/Fishery). These projects cultivate various fish species such as [pangas](/source/Pangash), [tilapia](/source/tilapia) (including monosex tilapia), [carp](/source/carp), [pabda](/source/Ompok), [gulsha](/source/Mystus_cavasius), [koi](/source/koi), [shinghi](/source/Heteropneustes_fossilis), [magur](/source/magur), and [tengra](/source/Mystus). The fish produced in these projects not only cater to domestic demand but also find markets in different districts of Bangladesh and abroad through exports.[{{Cite web |last=Hossain |first=Farhad |date=2023-08-26 |title=পর্যটনের সম্ভাবনা মিরসরাইয়ের মুহুরী প্রজেক্ট |trans-title=Tourism potential in Muhuri Project of Mirsarai |url=https://nagorik.prothomalo.com/travel/tbfphonqey |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=Prothom Alo |language=bn}}]
=== Tourism ===
Over the decades, the Muhuri Dam has evolved into a popular recreational and picnic destination. During the winter months, numerous visitors travel from various regions across the country to explore its attractions. Encircled by an embankment, the artificial water body surrounding the dam offers a picturesque setting adorned with water hyacinths. Nearby afforestation by the [Forest Department](/source/Forest_Department_(Bangladesh)) hosts deer and monkeys, among other species. The lower slopes of the embankment are adorned with stone lining, while the upper portions feature a carpet of grass. Boating on the Muhuri River provides visitors with an opportunity to observe diverse species of ducks and approximately a hundred different bird species up close.