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Haor submerged, farmers’ dream fading away


Published : 04 Apr 2022 09:36 PM

The semi-ripe boro paddy of the low lands along the river and canal of Haor has been submerged in the upper slopes. 

This year boro has been cultivated in 1 lakh 64 thousand 485 hectares of land in 13 upazilas of the district. Of this, 25,830 hectares of boro paddy has been planted in Itna upazila. 

The Department of Agriculture said about 500 hectares of paddy land has been submerged in the upstream slope. Unable to find any way, the farmers are returning home after cutting semi-ripe paddy from under the water. Meanwhile, the water level did not rise till Monday (April 4) and the water level was reported to be normal.

According to sources, in the dry season, relatively poor farmers cultivate boro paddy on the low lands of river banks and canals. If the river water rises, there is a risk of major damage. Due to the advance of water this year, the lands in the river basin and lower char areas have been submerged. 

If the water continues to rise, no one will be able to stop the loss of farmers. Meanwhile, Kishoreganj Water Development Board claims that water has not yet risen in the main haors. Only the relatively low lands between rivers and canals have been flooded.

Kishoreganj Water Development Board Executive Engineer Md. Matiur Rahman said the water had entered the river and canal outside the project area. We don't have a dam there. Water did not enter the 

main haor.

On the other hand, the district agriculture department says that 267 mm of rain fell in different parts of Meghalaya and Assam. That rain water came and entered the haor. However, due to lack of rain in Meghalaya and Assam, fresh water did not enter the haor. So far it has remained stable. That is why we are terrified. If it rains in the future, there is a possibility of flooding of different haors. 

Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Md. Saiful Alam said that the agriculture officials are keeping in touch with the farmers. I am requesting the farmers to cut off all the lands where boro paddy is 80 per cent ripe.

Deputy Commissioner Moha­mmad Shamim Alam said the lower reaches of the haor were inundated by the upstream slope. 

Due to the siltation of the river Dhanu, the water of the hill slopes is spreading in the bank of the river including the lowlands. Preventing untimely floods is not possible without river dredging.

 Measures will be taken to restore the depth of the river.