Canal re-excavation to boost Jhalakathi economy

Re-excavation work of about 3.3km canals in Jhalakathi Sadar upazila is ongoing in order to facilitate irrigation and boost the agricultural production of the district.

The farmers of Binoykati and Nabagram unions in the upazila are expecting to irrigate their farms using these canals during this Boro season.

Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) Jhalakathi sources said this is a part of the first phase of the canal re-excavation project that is currently ongoing all over the country.

Among the total area, re-excavation is going on in 1.14 km of the canal from Nabagram Leguna Stand area to Binoykati Chowmatha, and 2.11 km of the canal from Binoykati Chowmatha to Korapur area of Kalijira connecting canal.

Abdul Mannan, the local representative of a contractor company named M/s Natural, is implementing this work. Excavation is planned and implemented based on the width, navigability, and importance of the canal.

Local farmers expressed expectations of a bumper harvest following the project.

Ratan Howladar, a farmer of Salpasena village, said the cultivation of about 2,000 acres of land depends on the water of this canal, affecting many farmers during Boro season.

“Since it was first dug, the canal has not been re-excavated, leading the flow of the stream to die down due to accumulation of soil on both sides. Natural water sources for irrigation will benefit many farmers in the area as it lowers production costs,” he said.

Another farmer of the same village, Kazi Shakhawat Hossain, said due to the reduced water flow of the canal, the farmers who depended on boro paddy farming were in dire straits. Once the canal is re-excavated, the farmers will get a better harvest.

Jhalakathi BWDB Executive Engineer Md Rakib Hossain said the government has started re-excavating canals for irrigation to increase food production in the country.

“As part of the project, canal re-excavation work is also ongoing in two upazilas of the district. We expect this will benefit the farmers and boost crop production in the area,” he said.

He added that a sub-assistant engineer from the department is regularly supervising the process to ensure the work progresses smoothly.