People of Bhabadah at their own initiative removed barriers from Amdanga canal to resolve the perennial water stagnation at their homesteads and croplands.
The vast area of Bhabadah, a low-lying zone, causes untold sufferings to the residents as water gets clogged during the rainy season.
Unplanned embankments, sluice gets and other structures are blamed by the residents for their perennial miseries.
Around 500 people of the affected areas took part in the voluntary work on Sunday, said Chaitanya Kumar Paul, member secretary of Bhabadah Movement Committee. Bhabadah Movement Committee arranged the programme.
More than 10 lakh people of 200 villages in Bhabadah area, including Abhaynagar, Monirampur and Keshabpur upazilas of Jessore and Khulna's Fultala and Dumuria, are suffering due to waterlogging, according to the organisers.
Abhaynagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nasir Uddin Mia visited the area and expressed solidarity with the local people.
The affected people also urged the government to take initiatives, including excavation of Shrinadi and Horinadi rivers, opening Bhabadah sluice gate and making it fully functional, and creating another sluice gate at the entrance of the Bhairab River.