Home ›› 19 Feb 2023 ›› Nation
The water flow of 11 rivers and 35 canals in Natore has come to standstill due to climate change and encroachment.
There are a total of 11 rivers and 35 canals flowing through the district, as well as the Chalan Beel, the country’s largest water body. These water bodies were the main source of water for the farmers of Natore, especially during the dry season, boosting the agricultural production of the district.
However, for the past few years, land grabbers started to encroach and fill up the areas beside the river banks, creating bottlenecks. This has led to the water flow gradually slowing down to a narrow stream.
Not only is the region now facing a water crisis for agricultural cultivation, but also the tube wells used to draw drinking water are also drying up. In several areas of the district tube wells fail to pump up water during summer.
Raja, a resident of the Goshpara area in Sadar upazila’s Dighapatia union, said the farmers of the area face severe water crisis during summer as the river flowing by the area has now become a narrow stream.
“In the last few years, land grabbers have filled up the banks of the river illegally. The once large river has now turned into a narrow stream with barely any water,” he said. Natore town’s Kanaikhali areas resident Rana said he lived by the Gadai River, one of the major water bodies of the district.
“Not only did land grabbers encroach upon the river, but the locals also dump their waste there, destroying the environment. Along with the pungent smell, the stream has now become a paradise for mosquitoes, it is practically a public health hazard,” he added.
Naldanga upazila’s residents who live by the Barnoi River complained about the water crisis during summer. They said that some farmers cultivate crops in the dried-up riverbed during winter, however, it is hard to irrigate the fields due to the water crisis.
The Atrai was formerly one of the greatest rivers of north Bengal for it was the main channel that connects Teesta and Padma. The river runs through the Gurudaspur upazila of the district. It has now lost its beauty as well as its biodiversity.
Nandakuja, Gumani, Tulsiganga, and Khalisadanga Rivers flowing through the district is now also facing similar fates due to landfilling and waste dumping. Some of the rivers have turned into narrow streams while others are already dried up.
Salam, a resident of Gurudaspur said the irrigation of agricultural land is disrupted and the native fish resources and biodiversity are being threatened due to the rivers drying up. He added that many fishers have lost their source of income due to this.
Tanim, a local environmental activist, said other than monsoon boat movements stop through the rivers as the water flow slows down most of the year.
“The rivers were once the major way of transporting crops and goods through the region, a boon for trade, but those days are now just a part of history. Some riverbeds have become farmlands and some are falling
victim to urbanisation,” he said.
According to local farmers, using natural water sources for irrigation lowers the production cost of crops. The farmers are facing losses due to the rising production cost of crops due to the water crisis as they fail to sell their harvest at a higher price.
Transportation cost through the waterway is also lower, related sources said.
Chalan Beel protection movement committee president Mojibur Rahman Majnu said several rivers and canals that originated from the beel have become extinct due to land grabbers illegally filling up the banks and constructing buildings. He demanded that the government take immediate steps to protect the rivers and canals of the district.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) Natore District Executive Engineer Md Rofiqul Alom Chowdhury said, “A project proposal for re-dredging 154-km of branch rivers along Narad, Baral and Musakhan rivers of Natore at a cost of Tk 2,152 crore has been made to the department’s head office. If the project is approved, we will soon begin the excavation project.”
