Patuakhali

Kalapara canals dry up

Climate change fund sought for re-excavation

Dozens of canals in Kalapara upazila of the district, silted with top soil of farmland over the years, have now been dried up posing threat to environment and choking the sources of irrigation. Farmers and those rearing cattle are wondering about how they will cope with the situation caused largely for lack of rain. Drop in underground water level due to a lingering hot spell has also put many tube wells out of use. The people of the upazila are now crying for re-excavation of canals for flow of water on an urgent basis. Many of them say they have heard about allocation of fund for the purpose. Although the government had placed fund for digging of these dried-up canals under a ‘40-day ultra-poor programmes, Test Relief, Kabikha or Climate Change project’; but the fund has not yet been released thus depriving the poor farmers of irrigation facilities. Back in 1960 the then government built flood control embankment for cultivation of land and protection of people and properties from deluge. Later, sluice gates and inlets were also set up for ensuring flow of water from rivers into the canals round-the-year. But due to fall of water level in the rivers and filling up of the canals in absence of dredging a vast tract of cultivable land has turned into cracked desert and domestic animals are almost dying for want of water.  Farmer Abdul Halim of Sonatola village in Kalapara upazila, said three canals that run through their village have dried up now. Due to the prolonged drought there is no pasture for animals to graze there, he said. People of the area are concerned about their future following drying up of the canals, the only source of the water for irrigation of farmland and survival of domestic animals. Although upazila administration or BWDB had been digging the 5/6 canals every year it came as an eyewash. This is because the canals are not properly dredged and get dried up in the following year.

 

Patuakhali

Kalapara canals dry up

Climate change fund sought for re-excavation

Dozens of canals in Kalapara upazila of the district, silted with top soil of farmland over the years, have now been dried up posing threat to environment and choking the sources of irrigation. Farmers and those rearing cattle are wondering about how they will cope with the situation caused largely for lack of rain. Drop in underground water level due to a lingering hot spell has also put many tube wells out of use. The people of the upazila are now crying for re-excavation of canals for flow of water on an urgent basis. Many of them say they have heard about allocation of fund for the purpose. Although the government had placed fund for digging of these dried-up canals under a 40-day ultra-poor programmes, Test Relief, Kabikha or Climate Change project; but the fund has not yet been released thus depriving the poor farmers of irrigation facilities. Back in 1960 the then government built flood control embankment for cultivation of land and protection of people and properties from deluge. Later, sluice gates and inlets were also set up for ensuring flow of water from rivers into the canals round-the-year. But due to fall of water level in the rivers and filling up of the canals in absence of dredging a vast tract of cultivable land has turned into cracked desert and domestic animals are almost dying for want of water. Farmer Abdul Halim of Sonatola village in Kalapara upazila, said three canals that run through their village have dried up now. Due to the prolonged drought there is no pasture for animals to graze there, he said. People of the area are concerned about their future following drying up of the canals, the only source of the water for irrigation of farmland and survival of domestic animals. Although upazila administration or BWDB had been digging the 5/6 canals every year it came as an eyewash. This is because the canals are not properly dredged and get dried up in the following year.