Grabbers choke canals in Patuakhali's Kalapara

Farmers in Kalapara upazila of the district are facing crisis of sweet water for irrigating their agricultural land as most of the local canals have been grabbed by influential people. 

Some people have turned canals into pond or ditches for fish farming, while others have set up illegal structures.

The 5-km long Nilganj canal plays a vital role in cultivation of seasonal vegetables as several hundred farmers irrigate their lands with sweet water of the canal. But influential people have made over 50 fish enclosures along the canal.

Md Sarwar Hossain, a farmer of Uttar Nilganj village, said they cultivate seasonal vegetables round the year with sweet water from the canal but nowadays, especially in the dry season, they cannot irrigate their fields due to the enclosures at different points.

Abul Hossain of the same village said they requested the upazila parishad (UP) chairman and the upazila agricultural officer to solve the problem by shutting these enclosures, but to no effect.

Over 100 enclosures have been built in the Chakamoiya-Tarikata canal. As a result, the canal has lost its natural flow.

Most of the Kachari canal in Dhulashar union has been grabbed by locals, who have built houses, business establishments and other structures on it, greatly hampering its flow.

Md Al-Amin Howlader, a farmer of Champapur village, said Shahabuddin, an influential man, took lease of Chalitabuni canal showing it as cultivable khas land and dug ponds and ditches, totally blocking its natural flow.

"We urged the authorities concerned to free the canal after canceling its lease considering the farmers' interest, but nobody listened to us," he added.

Md Masud Mia, UP member of Mithagonj union, said local farmers couldn't irrigate their agricultural land in time as most canals have been grabbed by influential people in the name of fish cultivation.

Md Alauddin Sikder, president of Krishak Maitree, a local farmers' association of Kalapara upazila, said farmers are facing serious crisis of water for irrigating their lands as most canals that serve as water reservoirs are being grabbed by local musclemen.

Md Moshiur Rahman, Kalapara upazila agriculture officer, said the authorities concerned should take immediate steps to free these canals so farmers can use the water for irrigation.

Md Motaleb Talukder, chairman of Kalapara upazila parishad, said they will take steps to free the canal, considering the need of the farmers.

The lease will be cancelled if anybody made enclosures by occupying the canals, he added.