September 30, 2000

 

Bangladesh -- Flood Embankment Stabilization

Dampara Water Management Project, Kangsha River, Bangladesh

 

Contact: Jane Thomas --Team leader.

Email: Jane Thomas [email protected]

 

Experiment with Vetiver Grass

Left: In only four months, since planting it as an experiment on the newly constructed embankment in May, vetiver grass has grown from about 5 cm in height to a remarkable average height of over 200 cm! Transplanted from nearby fields, the grass known locally as ‘binda’ is proving to be as successful at slope stabilisation as is being demonstrated in many other countries. Where it is planted there is little or no damage from rain or wave action erosion.

Right: Where binda is not planted, the slope of the four month old embankment already has some erosion by rain and wave action.