Study Tour 2017

Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science & Technology University, Dinajpur

Batch 2015

DARE TO TRAVEL ON NEW PATHS

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Tour Date: 1st April, 2017

Tour Place: Mohonpur Rubber Dam, Dinajpur
Arranged by:
Md. Belal Hossain
Chairman
Department of Civil Engineering
Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science & Technology University, Dinajpur
Participants: The Students of Civil Engineering

Rubber dam
Inflatable rubber dams are cylindrical rubber fabrics placed across channels, streams
and weir or dam crests to raise the upstream water level when inflated. The membrane
is a multi-layer fabric made of synthetic fibre (usually nylon) and rubberised on one or
both sides. The fabric is quite flexible and yet exhibits good wear-resistance
characteristics. A layer of stainless steel mesh or ceramic chips can be embedded in
the surface layer to reduce or prevent vandal damage. Inflatable dams can be filled with
water, air or both.

Place of Rubber Dam

A rubber dam is built on the Atrai in Dinajpur to create a reservoir in the river that
usually dries up in the lean season. It is at Mohonpur, Chirirbandar, Dinajpur,
Bangladesh.

Purposes
1. To facilitateirrigation using surface water instead of underground water .
2. To facilitate fish cultivation.
3. To create a recreational place.
4. To contribute much to keeping the environmental balance of the areas.
5. To temporarily raise existing dams
6. water retention for aquifer recharge

Type of Rubber Dam and Working Principle

Generally there are three types of rubber dam. This one is water filled type rubber dam.
In these types of rubber dams, the inflating medium used is water. This has special
advantage over the air filled rubber dams that this has easy deflating process.
1. Hydraulic machine is used to fill up the rubber by entering water into it to reach
desired level.
2. Desired level is observed by the scale on dam.
3. For deflating the rubber, exhaust valve is opened.
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Figure 1.1 A typical water-filled Rubber Dam

Properties
1. Cylindrical rubber fabrics are placed across channels, streams and weir or dam
crests to raise the upstream water level when inflated.
2. Other construction parts- As usual
3. The dam - 135-metre long and four-metre high
4. Createsa 44- km long reservoir in the river that usually dries up in the lean
season.
5. 3 retaining walls.
6. 6.5 metre scale is used to control stream speed by increasing or decreasing the
size of rubber.
7. The layers of rubber coated fabric are joined in the longitudinal direction.
Construction of Rubber Dam
1. Concrete base slab and side walls
2. Anchorage
3. Rubber membrane
4. Water draining system
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Project information table

Project name Construction of (135m long) Rubber Dam : on Atrai River
near Mohonpur Bridge under SadarUpazila.
Opening date of tender 01-05-2011
Tender security amount BDT. 3,050,000.00
Agency Local government engineering department
Cost BDT. 15,54,36,436 TK

About Mohonpur Rubber Dam

Local lawmaker Iqbalur Rahim inaugurated the construction work as chief guest at
the project site, about 18km away from the district town.
Md. Jamal Uddin Ahmed, deputy commissioner of Dinajpur, Moinul Islam, police
superintendent, Dr. MollaHasan Mahmud, UNO of DinajpurSadar and ChittaGhosh,
president of Dinajpur Press Club, were present as special guests.
The rubber dam on the Atrai River will be 135 metres in length and 4 metres in height. It
is the largest water reservoir in the country, officials said.Five union parishads in
Sadarupazila -- Sheikhpura, Fazilpur, Sasra, Uthrail and Shankarpur and four in
Chirirbandarupazila -- Saitara, Abdulpur, Bhiyail and Auliyapur is enjoying facilities while
at least 2316 families of these areas is being benefited.The dam is actually being used
for irrigation purpose which has revolutionised the local agriculture sector. Around 70
thousand people of 7,000 farmer families who live on both sides of the river have been
benefited following the construction of the dam.
Besides, it has created employment opportunities for around 12 thousand people and
turned the spot into an attractive place.
Considering the convenient in the agriculture facilities including irrigation purposes for
the farmers in Chirirbandarupazila, the Local Government Engineering Department
(LGED) in Dinajpur built the 130-foot dam on the Kakra River at a cost of Tk 8.40 crore
at No. 8 Saitara union in 2011.
Sources at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in the upazila said, following
the construction of the dam, around 11-kilometre area of the Atrai and the Kakra rivers
crossing seven unions in the upazila and more 15 km in the adjacent branch rivers,
remain full of water round the year.
Due to the construction of the dam, at least 2,350 hectares of land under 12 blocks of
the total 24 have come under irrigation facilities. Around 5,500 farmers in
KushalpurKhochna, PaschimSaitara, Dakkhin Polashbari, Uttar Bholanathpur,
Andharmuha, Amarpur, Obhiail, Kaliganj, Talpukur, Durgapur, Phulpur, Guchchhagram,
Punatty, Gobindapur, Doapur, Tulshipur, Koronji, and Narayanpur villages have been
benefited and changed their lot following the construction of the dam.
GolamRabbani of Basudebpur village and HamidulHaque of DakkhinPolashbari village
said, "Despite being fertile, the lands of the areas were left fallow for lack of irrigation.
After the rubber dam was built, we are getting at least three crops regularly."
They further said, "Earlier 15 to 20 maunds of paddy were produced from one bigha of
land, but now 35 to 40 maunds are being produced from the same land. Besides, we
are getting bumper yield of other crops. Now, we are passing our days amid happiness
along with our families."
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While visiting the rubber dam site, only water was found in the Kakra River which
stretches from north to south. After seeing the greenish water with depths of 20 to 25 in
many places, it seems that there is rainy season throughout the year.
People were found crossing the river on different boats and catching fishes at different
spots. Besides, a foot-over-bridge was built on the dam and other facilities have been
provided for the visitors.
While talking with local people, it was known that the rubber dam project has changed
the scenario of the areas. More than 150 shops of different things have been built on
the dam's banks and local people have found employment opportunities at those shops.
Besides, around 1,500 fishermen are maintaining their livelihood by catching fish from
the Kakra River as water remains in the river round the year.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Biplob Kumar Mohanto said, the rubber dam site has
become a picnic spot and visitors come here regularly.
The rubber dam has not only changed the life of the locals.

Figure 1.2 Construction of dam

Conclusion
The Mohonpur Rubber Dam provides a large advantage in irrigation purpose around
locality. It enhanced the natural beauty of that place and is one of the most important
places of Dinajpur. It is very educative and provides an important role in practical
engineering study.
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Tour Date: 1st April, 2017

Tour Place: Maddhapara Granite Mining Company Limited (MGMCL)
Arranged by:
Md. Belal Hossain
Chairman
Department of Civil Engineering
Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science & Technology University, Dinajpur
Corresponding Course: Geology and Geomorphology
Participants: The Students of Civil Engineering

General Introduction
Maddhapara Granite Mining Company Limited (MGMCL) is a company of Petrobangla
under the Ministry of Power, Energy & Mineral Resources and Government of the
People’s Republic of Bangladesh. It produces the construction aggregates from the
underground mines which is basically used in river draining, roads and highways, high-
rise buildings, bridges, flyover, airport construction and other construction purposes.

Figure 2.1: Welfare Building of MGMCL

History of this Company

The company was incorporated on 4 th August, 1997 with a paid up capital of Taka
350.00 Crore under Company Act on 1994. It is one of the 2 companies of mining sector
of Petrobangla. Besides, the Petrobangla has other 11 companies of oil and gas sector.
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Management and Existing Manpower of MGMCL

This company is maintained by a Board of Directors. Then, the Managing Director is
followed in the management. This company has three divisions.
i. Operation Division
ii. Finance and Admin Division
iii. Marketing Division
The number of total existing manpower is 140 of which 87 are Officers, 34 are Staff and
19 are Day Labour. Besides, about 800-900 workers work here in mining. It is situated
at 30m above the Mean Sea Level (MSL).
Discovery and Geological Survey
This area is selected by an air magnetic survey before the liberation of Bangladesh.
With this survey the hard rock is detected for the first time in Maddhapara area. Then,
after the liberation war, Bangladesh Geological Survey performed a bore hole drilling
survey. Total 6 bore hole drilling is made one of which shows the hard rock at 128m
depth below the ground level.
After that, a feasibility study is conducted in 1976-77 by SMC, Canada. Then, the
geological condition is checked by Australian Ground Water Company in 1984-85. At
last, Japan performed another experiment on the grade of rock in 1989-90. All these
three experiment shows a positive sign for constructing this company.
Basically, the Intrusive Igneous rocks are found here which are about 173 crore years
old.
Development of Maddhapara Hardrock Mining
Project
After the feasibility study, government started a project named ‘Development of
Maddhapara Hardrock Mining Project’. Petrobangle was the employer of this project.
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Korean South-South Cooperation Corporation (NAMNAM) was the development partner

of this project. Copex S.A, Poland was the consultant of this project.
Figure 2.2 : Area of Maddhapara Granite Mining Company Limited (MGMCL)

Total cost of this project was 197.889M $ (As per 3 rd Revised PP). Total cost was
managed by the government annual development fund and NAMNAM. About
158.844M $ was the cost of developing the mine only. The project implementation
period was from the year 1994-2001. But, it was delayed due to some circumstances
and handed over by May, 2007. After that, this company was started commercially.
After finishing all kinds of maintenance work, this company was started fully on 4 th
November, 2010.

Then, a new contract was signed up with Germania Trest Consortium (GTC) named
‘Management of Operation and Development of Maddhapara Hardrock Mine’ on 2 nd
September, 2013. It is signed up for 6 years. In this 6 years, they would develop 12
more stopes of the mine which would provide 9.2M M/T Granite per year.
The present mining area of this company is 1.2 sq km. The amount of total reserved
rock is 174M MT. The mine was designed for 50 years. Then, it is extended to 70 years.
At initial time, only 5 number of stope was developed. But, now the number of stopes in
present mine life is 125. ‘Room & Piller Sublevel Stopping’ method is used in this
mining.

Production Process
At first, Primary Drilling is done in the stopes. Stope is a geometric area of dimension of
60x20x230m from which the rock is extracted. An additional area of width 25m is made
as a Pillar. So, the stopes and the pillars are arranged successively. The area of 60m
height is classified as three parts.
a) Ventilation Level: It is situated at -218m depth.
b) Sub Level: It is situated at -246m depth.
c) Production Level: It is situated at -270m depth.
The roads around these stopes were 13 km in the initial time. Now, it is extended to
16km.
Primary Blasting is done with the help of Power Gel and Ammonium Nitrate three levels.
Then Secondary Drilling and Blasting is done. After that, Muckling is done by the mine
car and carried to Serge Bunker. Then it is taken to the surface. Then the rocks are
graded into two categories. One is greater than 250mm and other is less than 250mm.
Then it is crusted and washed. Then the rock are graded again in 4 categories in sorting
plant according to their sizes.
 5-20mm
 20-40mm
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 40-60mm
 60-80mm

Figure 2.3 : Internal Transportation System of Rocks of MGMCL

The Boulder or large rocks or stones which is greater than 250mm are used in river
embankments and river draining. The Crushed stone in 4 categories are used in railway
and highway. While crushing, stone dust is remained. But, it is not unworthy. It is used
as an ingredient of cement.

In next 12 years, there will be more 30 stopes is supposed to be built. Till now from this
mine total 3.25M MT was extracted. 3.1M stones has been sold already. These stone
was used in different area of Bangladesh. Such as-

 Bangabandhu International Convention Centre

 Runway of Shahjalal International Airport
 Hatir Jheel Project, Kuril Project
 Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur
 Medical College of Rangpur, Dinajpur and Bogra.
 Railway and different structure of Bangladesh Railway.
 The Training Works of Bangabandhu Bridge.
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The stones are sold directly to the government agencies, through appointed dealers.
Besides, Bangladesh Railway, Roads and Highway Department, Water Development
Board, LGED, Public Works Department are the major consumers of this company.
Figure 2.4 : Model of Maddhapara Granite Mining Company Limited (MGMCL)

Facilities for the Workers

The workers or labours of this company have to work under high temperatures in the
mine. There are the latest facilities of ventilation and air circulation system for the
workers health. Adequate oxygen is supplied through it. There are two shafts of
transporting the workers into and out of the mine. Again, there are some devices under
the ground of checking the condition of the mine during earthquake or other
circumstances. Besides, there is a residential quarter for the staff and a school for the
children of staff and local people.
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Figure 2.5 : Shaft of carrying labours

Conclusion
Maddhapara Granite Mining Company Limited (MGMCL) bears a great role in different
engineering sectors in Bangladesh. In future, there are some plans to spread this area
and setup another company here. The geological condition of this place is luckily
favorable to construct mining company here. It is not only an industrial place but also a
place of knowing about our Geology too. Again, we have to find out and survey other
area in Bangladesh to find out other hard rock strata and way to extract them.
Bangladesh is really very resourceful.