500 Satkhira households face fresh water crisis

Nearly 500 households of three villages in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira are facing acute fresh water crisis after two canals in the area were leased out to local influential people for fish cultivation.

Residents of three villages -- Khutikata, Kachiharania and Katalbaria -- used to depend on Shuta and Sangkranti canals, the only freshwater reservoirs in the area, to meet their demand for water, said locals.

They also used water from the canals for irrigation and fished there. However, the canals were leased out in 2013.

The leaseholders are now cultivating shrimp in the canals admitting saltwater in the canals and affecting the ecosystem and biodiversity of the area, besides triggering a freshwater crisis.

"There is scarcity of water due to salinity in the canals and we have no fresh water," said Shibani Mondal, an inhabitant of Khutikata village.

She further said that arable land in the area was gradually losing fertility due to salinity intrusion. 

The government re-excavated Shuta and Sangkranti canals in 2009. However, local musclemen began fish farming in the canals after taking them on lease.

"Farmers are not allowed to use water from the canals. Leaseholders also restricted our movement on the banks of the canals," said Ratikanta Das another villager.

Villagers alleged they have repeatedly urged the authorities concerned to cancel the leases but to no avail.

Condemning the local administration's decision to lease out the canals, General Secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon Dr Abdul Matin said no canal can be leased out to an individual as it is public property.

Contacted, local MP SM Jaglul Hayder said he has no knowledge about the leasing out of the canals and that he would talk to the local administration to take necessary steps to cancel the leases.

Deputy Commissioner of Satkhira District Nazmur Hasan said necessary actions will be taken in this regard after probing it and the leases will be cancelled, if necessary.