Karnaphuli Correspondent: The upazila administration conducted a 5-hour operation to evict illegally built structures and illegal occupants at the mouth of Badamtal canal in Charpatharghata of Karnaphuli upazila.
It was alleged that two influential companies have been blocking the water drainage system by constructing two-story buildings and walls at the mouth of the canal for a long time. Which has been destroyed by the administration.
Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Piyush Kumar Chowdhury conducted the operation on Wednesday (June 26) at noon in the Badamtal area of the Charpatharghata Union of Upazila.
CMP Karnaphuli Police and Charpatharghata Union Land Assistant Officer Ujjwal Kanti Das were in full cooperation in the operation.
It is known on the surface that two influential companies, Simuzu Company and Continental Marine Fisheries Limited, had occupied the land of the canal for a long time at the mouth of Badamtal Canal in Charpatharghata.
As a result, the water movement was completely disrupted due to the closure of the canal mouth by these two companies. Even during high tide, the water of the Karnaphuli river did not enter the Badamtal branch canal. As the two companies were dominant, no one in the area could easily protest or open their mouths. But in the last few days, the local people were angry and complained to Aceland after seeing the wall being built at the mouth of the canal again.
Before this, many complained that no one was coming forward to revive the dead canal in Karnaphuli. But upon receiving the complaint, the upazila administration immediately moved to save the mouth of the Badamatal canal.
Even going through various documents, RS, BS Khatian, and Sit Mule are recorded as government. The land class is also shown as a as a canal. But the original canal is still almost obliterated by encroachment and filling. It can be seen that the Badam-Tal Canal has lost its charm. The entire body of the canal is dilapidated by encroachment and filling.
When asked how this happened, the locals said, first, soil was filled in different parts of the canal. Later, various structures, houses, and toilets were built there.
According to the locals, the influential are involved in these activities. They have done these things without any hindrance from the administration in the past. Not only encroachment and filling, but the entire Badam Tal has created an uncomfortable environment by dumping garbage in the main canal.
Charpatharghata businessman Khorshed Alam said, “All the encroachment and filling of the Badamtal Canal.” But this is the only source of water movement in Charpatharghata. It needs to be protected for the sake of the local people. It is important to free everyone from encroachment, filling, and pollution.
Some people on the bank of the canal said that since no effective legal action was taken against the encroachers for a long time, the canal was narrowed due to illegal occupation, and the water drainage system was being disrupted. As a result, waterlogging has increased in the Charpatharghata area.
On the surface, the Badam Tal Canal ends at the Siyanartek Pool at the Continental Group jetty on the south bank of the Karnaphuli River. At high tide, water entered through the mouth of the Nayahat Setu and Badam Tal canals. Now there is no chance of water entering through this canal. The entire canal is filled with encroachment and pollution.
According to Union Land Office sources, Charpatharghata seat number 1 has had government Khas Khatianbhukta land on 285 plots for about 87 centuries. But the canal’s old heritage has been lost due to encroachment. Earlier, the width of the canal was 40 to 50 feet. 30 feet in some places. Now it has narrowed in occupation day by day.
Charpatharghata Union Land Assistant Officer Ujjal Kanti Dash said, “A report has been requested from the Upazila Land Office regarding the canal. A report is given on the current condition and occupants of the canal. The upazila administration has sent a proposal to the relevant department of the government to dig various canals in the upazila, including the Badamtal canal and the Khwajanagar canal.
Regarding the raid, Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Piyush Kumar Chowdhury said, ‘We have received complaints. I went to the ground to see the truth of the complaint and found evidence of occupation of the mouth of the canal. At the mouth of the canal, a barrier has been created by constructing structures at various places. Later, we released it. They themselves have also removed something.
He also said, ‘The next Badam Tal canal will be returned to its old form. Because the condition of all the canals in Charpatharghata is being inspected for evacuation operations and canal digging to resolve the waterlogging,.
