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Water-logging, hyacinth leave 600 bighas of land in Chatmohar useless


Published : 25 Apr 2022 08:59 PM

The canal (canal) flowing through Bilkuralia beel in Chatmohar upazila of Pabna has almost closed due to siltation. When the water level rises during the rainy season, water hyacinth enters the water body through this canal and spreads everywhere. 

When the water recedes at the end of the monsoon season, waterlogging occurs. The water hyacinth is not able to come out through the canal and accumulates in the middle of the water. A small sluicegate in the middle of the canal adds an extra dimension to the misery. Due to stagnant water, about 600 bighas of land in the bill remained uncultivated. As a result, the landless farmers of Bilpar have to count the losses every year as they are unable to cultivate.

In this way, at least 600 bighas of land remain uncultivated year after year. Waterlogging and water hyacinth have become a thorn in the side of about 500 landless farmers in Bilpar. 

Although some lands can be planted with one crop, the cost of production increases several times. Farmers claim that if the canal is dug and the sluice gate is broken and bridged, one crop land will be converted into three crop lands.

Farmers Hasan Ali and Bahar Uddin of Haripur village of the upazila said that the main problem is water hyacinth. There are still about 600 to 700 bighas of water covered with hyacinth. These cannot be cleaned due to high water and waterlogging. 

Alauddin Hossain, a farmer from Lautia village, said that the sluice gate at the mouth of the water coming out of the water is very low. Even if the canal overflows and enters the bill, the water hyacinth cannot come out later. Water hyacinth remains all over the water. 

The canal has also been filled with silt. Although the excavation work started at different times, the excavation work was stopped due to unknown reasons. 

Anwar Hossain, a farmer from Lautia village in Haripur union, said the government demanded that the canal be dug 6 to 8 feet deep and 50 feet wide from Bilkuralia to Chiknai river. In addition, if the sluice gate is broken and the bridge is enlarged, there will be no water hyacinth, the problem of waterlogging will also be removed. Farmers will be freed from long years of misery. Crop production will increase.

Chatmohar Upazila Agriculture Officer AA Masum Billah said the matter has been reported to the Upazila Irrigation Committee and Water Development Board. A project has also been proposed for excavation of canals and construction of a bridge to break the sluicegate. Efforts are being made to alleviate the suffering of the farmers in consultation with the higher authorities.