Encroachment upon the small rivers flowing through Dumuria upazila of
Khulna has shrunk their areas largely posing threat of environmental
hazards.
A section of local influential people enjoying political clout have
taken illegal possession of vast tracts of char (landmass emerged from
riverbed) lands of the rivers Ambaria, Bhadra, Salta, Khornia,
Harinadi, Gangrail and Thukrahamkura.
They have set up illegal structures on the grabbed lands turning the
rivers into narrow streams at some places, obstructing free flow of
their water, creating severe water logging in the areas around the
riverbanks.
The water logging problem that has taken a persistent form damages
properties cores of taka every year.
Dredging of the rivers to rid the surrounding areas of menacing water
logging has not been possible so far because of obstruction put by the
local influential people having link with the ruling party during
successive governments.
Local administration has ever seemed to be indifferent to the evil pratice.
The influential people have so far occupied nearly 6,500 acres of char
land in the seven rivers.
They have built brick kilns, fish farms and business centres on the
grabbed lands.
As a result, 12 lakh people are facing environment hazards in 54
unions of Dumuria upazila and its adjacent Phultala, Tala and
Keshabpur upazilas.
The seven rivers including Ambaria and Bhadra have shrunk to small
canals due to encroachment.
Many of the encroachers have sold out possession of these grabbed lands.
Businessman Sheikh Rezwan Hossain of Kharnia said politically powerful
people are occupying new char land.
As a result, the rivers are losing their normal course.
Once different types of boats, launches and ferries used to ply the
rivers but now houses and business centres stand there.
The role of the Water Committee formed to save the rivers also appears
to be mysterious.
Kharnia UP chairman Sheikh Didarul Hossain Didar said, “Those who are
protectors become predators.”
Local farmers Sheikh Atiar Rahman, Raihan Uddin and teacher Bimal
Chandra Boiragi said nearly 12 lakh people of Dumuria and its adjacent
upazilas Phultala, Tala of Satkhira and Keshabpur of Jessore face
water logging every year due to obstruction to drainage system.
Lecturer of Dumuria Women’s College Aman Ullah and Rudhghara UP former
woman member Rozina Parvin said the area faces a dangerous situation
for water logging during rainy season.
According to river experts, people of Dumuria upazila and its adjacent
upazilas would face disaster unless the seven rivers are retrieved
from the grabbers and their navigability restored through excavation
work.
Environmentalists said that the rivers were filled up due to
deposition of silt following unplanned construction of over 50 sluice
gates on the cross dams linking with the seven rivers.
Consequently, lakhs of people are facing water logging every year.
Besides, salinity level of the water is increasing which threatens
biodiversity in the area.
Local MP Narayan Chandra Chanda admitting illegal occupation of the
seven rivers by land grabbers said drive against the encroachers will
start this month to make Dumuria a modern upazila.
Besides, the government has taken a massive plan for digging the
rivers, he added. – UNB, Khulna
