ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF JAMUNA MULTIPURPOSE BRIDGE PROJECT

Abstract

Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge Project (JMBP) constructed over the river Jamuna connecting the eastern and north-western parts of the country was the largest infrastructure development project in Bangladesh. The northern intake of the Dhaleswari river, a tributary of the Jamuna river was closed to accommodate the bridge end facilities and prevent possible over flanking of the Jamuna river, which affected the hydraulic regime of the Dhaleswari basin. The river training works and bridge piers constricted the river flow resulting back and tail water effects. The changes in water regime and acquisition of land inflicted major environmental and social impacts. The wildlife in the area was also disturbed and dislocated during construction of the bridge. A number of studies was conducted to assess the environmental and social impacts of construction of the bridge. This paper describes a summary of the environmental and social impacts of this largest development project of the country.