Most rivers and canals in Netrakona are losing navigability and becoming a threat to the biodiversity in the region. Photo: TDM
A total of 122 rivers and canals in Netrakona are losing navigability due to silt, sediment and not being re-excavated, and becoming a threat to the biodiversity in the region.
The silt and sediment are driven by hilly tides from upstream. Sources said sand and siltation that washed away by the current from the northern mountain slopes accumulate at the bottom of the rivers, making them lose navigability.
Transportation of agricultural goods and other products is being hampered due to this. Many species of fish are also on the verge of extinction as the rivers run dry during winter.
Once upon a time, the district’s trade was carried on throughout the year via rivers and canals. However, their recent condition is hampering trade and business in the region. Irrigation work is also being disrupted due to the inability to retain the water of the rivers.
According to Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Netrakona sources, there are 122 rivers and canals including seven big rivers in the district. The total length of the seven large rivers flowing through the district is 334 kilometres and the length of 115 small rivers is 5125.6 kilometres.
Since these rivers and rivers have not been dug for a long time and over time, the sand and silt that came down with the stream, most of the rivers have become narrow.
Among the 122 rivers in the district, the seven major rivers are Kangsha, Mogra, Someshwari, Uddakhali, Dhonu, Bhogai, and Gumai. The smaller rivers are moribund and have turned into narrow channels.
There are a total of nine rivers and canals flowing through Durgapur Upazila. These are Nalia Aga, Chukai Khali, Baloch, Jhenaigati, Arbakhali, Nahitkhali, Sattar Munsi, Baneswari, and Pagria.
There are 14 rivers and canals in Kalmakanda upazila, 18 rivers, and canals in Netrakona Sadar, 16 rivers and canals in Kendua upazila, 26 rivers and canals in Barhatta upazila, 11 rivers, and canals in Purbadhala upazila, seven rivers, and canals in Mohongonj upazila, other seven rivers and canals in Khaliajuri Upazila, five rivers and canals in Madan upazila.
Ratan Pandit, a resident of Madan Upazila, said that influential individuals and groups in different areas of the district have grabbed the lands by the riverbanks to cultivate crops.
Anwar Hossain, a resident of Atpara village, said, “It has become impossible to irrigate Boro crops with water from the rivers and the canals. During Boro season all of them dry up. We do not even have access to water for household chores.”
Another resident named Abdul Jabbar said that fishermen in the area used to make a living by catching fish from the river. He alleged that local influential people are preventing the rivers from being re-excavated.
Netrakona BWDB Executive Engineer Md Sarwar Jahan said that 10 canals have been dug in FY 22 to retain irrigation water for agricultural purposes. In FY 23, five more canals are being dug at a budget of Tk 10 crores.
Deputy Commissioner of Netrakona Anjana Khan Majlish said if there are illegal landgrabbers they will be evicted.
“A list of all the rivers that need to be dredged will be prepared and sent to the Ministry of Water Resources to protect the navigability of the river and retain irrigation water throughout the year,” she added.
The rivers and canals in Netrakona have become unnavigable due to the accumulation of sand and silt from the mountains and rainwater, causing the natural biodiversity to be under extreme threat. The once-flourishing trades carried out by the rivers throughout the year have been disrupted, and the irrigation works have also been affected due to the inability of the rivers to hold water. This situation has led to a significant reduction in the population of native fish species, which are on the brink of extinction.
Netrakona has a total of 122 small and large rivers and canals, including seven major rivers, with a total length of 334 kilometers flowing through the district. The length of 115 small rivers is 5125.6 kilometers. However, due to the lack of dredging for a long time and the continuous fall of sand and silt, most of the rivers have turned into canals.
Some influential people and groups in different areas of the district have taken possession of different parts of these rivers and canals, dried up the water, and cultivated rice. This occupation has caused the people to be deprived of the benefits of the river, and the government is losing a significant amount of revenue due to the silence of concerned authorities in this regard.
The farmers of Kangsa, Magra, Someshwari, Ubdakhali, and Dhanu rivers used river water for household work throughout the year and had no worries about irrigating their boro crop fields. However, due to the occupation of the influential quarters, there is now no water to irrigate the land. The fishermen in the area have also been affected, as they used to earn their livelihood by catching fish from the river. But now, due to the occupation of influential people, the common people, including the fishermen, are deprived of fishing.
The Executive Engineer of Netrakona Water Development Board (PUBO), Sarwar Jahan, stated that 10 canals were dug in the last financial year to retain irrigation water for agricultural purposes. In the current financial year, 5 more canals are being dug at a cost of Tk 10 crores.
TDM/MI
