Anwara Correspondent: More than a thousand acres of land remain uncultivated even in the dry season in Purba Barkhain village of Anwara upazila. Since these lands on the banks of the Sangu River have been lying uncultivated for more than 15 years, weeds have grown and turned them into jungles. Hundreds of acres of land have disappeared into the river due to erosion and tidal water. In addition, although the work of cutting the sluice gate and embankment was completed two years ago, the sluice gate has been useless since its construction as the canal was not dug. Locals are blaming the apathy of the upazila administration, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), and Water Development Board for this situation. Brave freedom fighter Raja Mia, a resident of Purba Barkhain village, said that due to the lack of an embankment for more than 15 years, several hundred acres of land in the area have gone into the Sangu River due to the fluctuation of tidal water. As the tidewater rises, the agricultural land in the area has turned into char. Since the lands have not been cultivated for a long time, weeds have now grown on hundreds of acres of land and turned into jungle. It is difficult to calculate which land belongs to whom. It is not possible to say without proper measurement.
He also said that the work of cutting the earth was completed even though the embankment was not completed two years ago. More than 5 kilometers of canals have not been dug. A sluice gate has been built. But since the canals have not been dug on several hundred meters of land on the banks of the Sangu River, water is not flowing through the sluice gate. As a result, it is uncertain when these lands will be cultivated. Since the canals have not been dug, the entire area remains waterlogged during the rainy season. Thousands of acres of land belonging to thousands of people in the area are lying like this. This situation has arisen due to the failure of the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and the Water Development Board to take proper steps.
Locals allege that there are defects in the construction of this sluice gate, built at a cost of more than 15 million taka. Since it was built higher than the depth of the Kodla Canal, water is not flowing. And less than a year after construction, the soil on one side has gone into the canal. Azmanur Rahman, Deputy Assistant Engineer of the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, said the length of the Kodla Canal is currently 8 kilometers. In the last fiscal year, we dug a 2-kilometer canal. This year, a project approval proposal has been sent for digging the remaining 6 kilometers of canal. Mizanul Haque, Deputy Assistant Engineer of the Water Development Board, said the sluice gate was built in the past 22 years. But we could not dig the canal last year because the locals claimed the lands on the banks of the Sangu River at the Sluich Gate as their ownership. We need the cooperation of the locals in this regard.
When asked about the defects in the construction of the Sluich Gate, Barna Haque, Sub-Divisional Engineer of the Water Development Board, said the allegations of construction defects in the Sluich Gate are not true. Because before the Water Development Board accepts this project, the project is approved based on the opinions and recommendations of the expert committee, considering everything, including the depth of the Sangu River, local land, and canals.
