No move to remove a persisting problem
50,000 virtually marooned in 21 Satkhira villages as water-logging turns 9,000 acres uncultivable
Abu Ahmed, Satkhira
Water-logging has imperiled livelihood of about 50,000 people in 21 villages in Satkhira Sadar upazila. The villagers are virtually marooned and their croplands on about 9,000 acres turned uncultivable due to siltation in Marichchap river and an inoperative sluice gate at Balitha that stopped flow of water from five beels (big water bodies) in the area covering three upazilas. The long-drawn problem has taken a serious turn with silt being deposited on lands due to stagnant water. At least 300 houses have been damaged as numerous homesteads are under water since June. The water bodies are Chelar Beel in Brahmmarajpur union, Dheur Beel in Dhulihar union and Palichand Beel, Buramara Beel and Khariler Beel in Fingri union. Water-logging in the vast swath of land poses a serious threat to livelihood and environment because the problem persists at least for eight months a year since the 80s, local people told this correspondent during a visit. The greens are disappearing as the ecology is being affected, they said. Raising livestock is also a difficult job now. The problem began as the bed of Marichchap river became silted. A moderate flood turns the whole area into a vast sheet of water, totally haling life as water can not be drained out, they said. The sluice gate at Balitha was built in early 70's to drain out rainwater from the areas into Marichchap river, the only natural outlet. But it has been silted, they said. The only solution is dredging of the river but the Water Development Board (WDB) did not take any effective step, said Abul Khair, a freedom fighter. "Our croplands are under water and we do not have any alternative source of income", said farmer Swapan Kumar Mondal of Balitha village. "We can not grow Amon paddy now and are also set to lose winter crops including wheat and vegetables in the coming because of the water-logging", he said. Belayet Hossain, deputy director of Agricultural Extension Department (AED) in Satkhira also admitted that the situation is grave. He said he submitted a report to higher authorities to take measures but to no effect. Dredging of the river is a gigantic project but there is no alternative, he said. Samsur Rahman, a member of Fingri Union Parishad said they drew the attention of local Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker, but to no effect. On contact, lawmaker Maulana Abdul Khaleque refuted the allegation. He said he is trying to remove the problem.
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