Residents of the low-lying areas in Keshabpur and Monirampur upazilas of Jashore have been stuck in floodwaters for the last two months due to silt buildup in the rivers.
To reduce flooding, silt is being cleared from the Bilkhukshi 8-vent sluice gate, and irrigation systems are being used to pump water into the Hari River.
Water from 27 beels across 68 villages in six unions of Keshabpur and Monirampur upazilas is normally drained into the Hari River through these sluice gates. However, heavy siltation of the sluice gates and Khukshia Canal has caused prolonged waterlogging in the area.
As a result, about two lakh people in the Bhabadah region have been living in waterlogged conditions for nearly two months.
On 8 October, the “Save 27 Beel Bachao Andolan Committee” submitted a memorandum with five demands to the Water Resources Advisor, urging swift action to resolve the waterlogging crisis. The following day, a large gathering of affected residents was held at Suflakati Union Parishad Chattar.
A 51-member Water Irrigation Project Committee was formed, chaired by SM Munjur Rahman, to oversee efforts to drain the water.
Shahidul Islam, a farmer from Pathra village, said, “Over the past 7-8 days, 24 to 25 irrigation pumps have been set up to remove water from 47 villages in the Burli and Panjia-Pathra Beel areas. So far, Tk18 lakh has been spent, and residents are starting to see relief as water recedes from most homes.”
“Following this, four more irrigation machines were used to drain water from the 27 flooded villages in Beel Goralia. The 27 Beel Irrigation Committee also worked to clear silt from the 8-vent sluice gate at Khukshia Canal over the past few days,” he said.
Aditya Sarkar, a teacher from Ashannagar village, said landowners affected by the flooding have contributed Tk500 per bigha to fund the irrigation, with the rest of the expenses being covered by the local embankment owners.
“However, water from 52 beels in the Bhabadah reservoir is now flowing into Beel Khukshia through an area near Konakhola Bazar in Monirampur upazila, raising concerns about potential delays in the irrigation process, he said.
SM Munjur Rahman, the convener of the Beel Khukshia Water Irrigation Project Committee and chairman of Sufalakati Union Parishad, stated that the canal connecting the 8-vent sluice gate to the Hari River has been filled with silt and elevated by five feet, worsening the waterlogging problem.
Bd-pratidin English/Afia
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