Influentials control sluice gates farmers' seedbeds in saline water

Paddy fields in Kalapara under saline water as influentials control sluice gates.

Patuakhali: A large area farmers' paddy fields have been submerged in saline water due to the fish farming of the influential people by occupying the sluice gate of the Swanirvor canal known as the connecting canal of Andharmanik river in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali. Farmers are afraid of hindrance in the cultivation of their Aush rice.

Local farmers complain that the water level in the river has increased due to the onset of monsoon season. Sohel, senior vice-president of Baliatali Union Sramik League, occupied the sluice gates of Kankunipara, Madhukhali, Haripara, Buddhpara, Ayumpara areas of Baliyatli Union from the beginning of the season to catch fish. He is releasing water through the sluice gate not for the benefit of the farmer but for the sake of his fish farming.

It is known that the branch of the Andharmanik river in the upazila is Swanirvar canal or Zia canal, which flows for 8 kilometers inside Mithaganj and Baliatali Unions. The sluice gates of this canal have been occupied by the influential people and the saline water has been raised and lowered for fish farming, resulting in the lack of fresh water in the farmers' farming land. Farmers of 10 villages are in extreme uncertainty about paddy cultivation in Aush. Due to inundation of the fields in salt water, there is a shortage of food for cattle and the destruction of the seed bed of Aush. Even the people of these villages have a shortage of fresh water for cooking and bathing.

Various types of vegetables produced by farmers are getting spoiled.

At present, the canal has brackish water. Former President Ziaur Rahman in 1980 dug a ten-kilometer self-supporting canal with spades in the interest of the farmers of Mithaganj Union. There is a sluice gate at the junction of this canal with the river. Such a situation has arisen due to the introduction of salt water from the river into Zia canal through this sluice gate. Sramik League's influential leader Sohel controls the sluice gate.

Sohel, senior vice-president of Baliatali Union Sramik League, said, 'I have the key to the sluice gate. I take care of the sluice gate.

Never raised salt water. I am doing what is beneficial to the farmer.'

Enamul Mia, a member of Ward No. 3 of Baliatali Union, said, I have told several times by mobile phone so that salt water does not rise. But Sohel is not listening to anyone.

Abu Hashem, No 2. Ward member of Mithaganj Union, said, "I have more than three acres of land in this bill. Now I'm seeding Aus. Saline water has to finish everything. Sohel of Sramik League is not listening to anyone. They are raising and lowering salt water according to their

convenience. Poultry also started suffering from diseases due to saline water. I am a public representative, but I can't do anything for farmers.'

Baliatali UP Chairman A BM Humayun Kabir said that any body has no opportunity to raise saline water during cultivation. The autonomous canal meets the fresh water needs of the farmers of Mithaganj and Baliatali Unions. I will take action knowing who raises the saline

water.

Upazila Agriculture Officer ARM Saifullah said that the Agriculture Office will provide all cooperation for the benefit of farmers. But the sluice gate is controlled by the Water  Development Board. If saline water rises now, farmers will suffer. It's time to build

seedbeds everywhere.

Kalapara UNO Md. Jahangir Hossain said, the farmers have not given written complaint to me yet. If you give a written complaint, I will take action. – Gofran Biswas Palash