Manmade disaster looms in B'baria town
Encroachers clog the lone canal
Sheikh Shahidul Islam, B'baria
Land grabbers have turned the once wide Titas Khal running through Brahmanbaria town into a narrow canal, clogging the drainage system in the town and creating floods on eastern areas of the district in wet season. Originating from Titas river, the canal flows through the town and falls into the river again at Gukarna launch ghat on the western side of the town. This is the only outlet through which flood water on lands in the eastern areas of the district falls into the Titas river. Vast lands now remain flooded during the rainy season. IRRI-Boro crops there are damaged in flush floods now. The canal is now clogged at many points due to encroachment and dumping of garbage, which keeps it dry during summer, emitting bad odor and creating health hazard, many town dwellers told this correspondent. Earlier, big boats carrying goods used to enter the town through the canal, which is not seen now. Encroachment on both sides of the canal increased as lands became dearer after Brahmanbaria Pourasabha was upgraded to 'A' category municipality from 'B' category, the town dwellers said. The canal is shrinking day by day. According to sources at Brahmanbaria Pourasabha, the canal is about five kilometres in length. Its average width is 20 metres and depth five metres. Now the width is only around 13 metres. The canal has been virtually filled up at some points, where farmers grow vegetables in winter. According to sources, Brahmanbaria pourasabha has planned construction of a dam on the eastern side of the town to protect it from flood, instead of demolishing the encroachments and re-excavating the canal. Pourasabha trucks are often seen dumping garbage in the canal, some local people alleged. Some influential groups have reportedly given a proposal to the pourasabha to fill up the Khal and construct a big box drain, which has drawn criticism from different quarters. Muhammad Musa, former president of Brahmanbaria Press Club, said closure of the natural canal would create a disaster for the town as this is the only outlet through which filth and garbage is carried to the Titas river. The canal should be re-excavated to protect the environment in the town, he said. Brahmanbaria Nagorik Unnayan Committee has also demanded restoration and re-excavation of the canal. When contacted, Brahmanbaria Pourasabha Chairman Md Hafijur Rahman Mulla said he has a plan to evict encroachers and re-excavate the canal.
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