Saline water affects farmlands as sluice gate collapses

Saline water is entering vast agricultural lands at Fashipara village in Kalapara upazila under the district following collapse of a sluice gate on Fashipara canal near Alipur Bazar, much to the worry of the local farmers.

The 10-km-long Fashipara canal connecting Shibbaria River with Kocchopkhali lake carries water for several villages including Alipur, Noioripara and Khajura and local people have been using its water for household works and agricultural purposes for long.

Now saline water from the Shibbaria River enters the canal and eventually affects the agricultural lands as the sluice gate collapsed, said Md Abu Bakar, a farmer of Alipur village.

Due to the situation, thousands of local farmers are worried over their cultivation, especially of paddy and watermelon, he said.

"Water Development Board (WDB) built the sluice gate in 60s to protect the farmlands from saline water. But recently the gate along with its guide wall collapsed as the road over it caved in under the heavy pressure of goods-laden trucks and other vehicles crossing over it," said Md Sayeed Fakir, acting chairman for local Latachapli union parishad.

"We informed the WDB and upazila parishad of the matter several times but to no effect yet," he said.

Md Abul Khayer, executive engineer of WDB in Kalapara Circle, said they have already taken a plan to repair the sluice gate and hopefully the work will start soon.