30 International Journal of Water Research 2013; 1(2): 30-36 Original Article Economic Valuation of Tangible Resources From Halda– The Carp Spawning Unique River Located at Southern Part of Bangladesh Md. Humayain Kabir * Lecturer, Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh Md. Manzoorul Kibria Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh Mohammed Jashimuddin Professor, Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Associate Professor, Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh *Corresponding Author: email: humayun@ifescu.ac.bd Received 15 August 2013; accepted 09 September 2013 Abstract Halda is the only river in Bangladesh where major Indian carps spawn naturally which makes this river a unique heritage of this country. Besides Indian carps, there are many other resources which this river provides; however, till date there had been no effort towards economic valuation of these tangible and intangible resources. This study aims at determining the total economic value of the tangible resources of Halda. We have used both primary and secondary data. Primary data was obtained between January 2011 and January 2012 through field visits and interview of scholarly authorities on this river while secondary data was collected from relevant government and non-government organizations. The total value of tangible resources according to our calculation stood at 20.5 million US$. In this total value, in million US$, segmented contributions of fishing, fish fry, irrigation, drinking water, water transportation and sand extraction respectively were 0.07, 0.005, 15.78, 1.33, 0.12, 2.51. The study suggests that policy makers should take into consideration the economic value of tangible resources of this river for its sustainable management. © 2013 Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved Keywords: Halda river, tangible resources, economic value, Bangladesh 1.0 Introduction Rivers play very crucial roles in the development of any country. They can be effectors of development of an economically depressed region within a country by becoming the means of productions and services such as fresh water supply, fish production, transportation, waste assimilation etc., along with provision of a wide array of recreation and tourism options [1]. Halda, the third main river of Chittagong after the Karnaphuli and the Sangu, is such a resourceful river of Bangladesh. Originating at the Batnatali Hill Ranges of Ramgarh Upazila under Khagrachari District, Bangladesh, the river flows through Fatikchhari, Hathazari and Raozan Upazilas and Chandgaon Thana of Chittagong before ending into the Karnaphuli River. Halda river is the only river in Bangladesh from where fertilized eggs of major Indian carps are collected [2, 3]. This river is famous as a breeding ground for pure Indian carp fish populations. As a tidal river, this is the only of its kind in the world from where fishermen collect fertilized eggs directly [4]. Sixty percent of the country's pond carps culture on the fish fry naturally produced in the river which is of insurmountable economic and nutritional value. The river also provides navigation, drinking water supply, sand querying, irrigation. In this way, it plays a pivotal role in the local and the national income generation which makes this river a natural resource of immense economic value. The ‘true’ economic value of environmental resources e. g. Halda river should be accounted for when making investment whether from Government or private sector as well as in making environmental policy decisions. Therefore, by estimating the total economic value of tangible resources of this river properly, this study will help the policy makers of Bangladesh to formulate sound environmental policy for conservation of Halda river by assigning due value to all the pertaining resources of this river. So far no such study has been done to evaluate the total economic value of tangible resources of Halda river. Available online at http://www.urpjournals.com International Journal of Water Research Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved