Farmers hit by water logging form human chain
Affected farmers form a human chain in Malini Beel in Satkhira Sadar upazila yesterday demanding early excavation of Malini canal to drain out water for solving waterlogging problem in the area.Photo: STAR
Several hundred affected farmers formed a human chain in the water of the Malini Beel and held rally yesterday demanding measures to solve the water-logging problem in the area. Due to persisting water-logging in the Malini Beel, crops on 8000 acres of land were damaged last year while suffering of the people increased manifold, the farmers said. The situation took a serious turn in the last few years for lack of excavation of the Malini canal covering two and a half kilometres, they alleged. Ghona Union Nagarik Adhikar Unnayan Samannoy Committee, a body formed by local people to protest and resolve the water-logging problem, organised the programme. Farmers formed a human chain in the water of the beel (water-body) at about 3:30pm which continued till 3:45pm. Later they held a rally at Ghona Bazar in Sadar upazila with convener Nurul Islam in the chair. The rally was addressed by local AL, BNP and JP leaders and others. The speakers alleged that the government had sanctioned Tk 3 lakh to excavate the canal in a bid to solve the water-logging problems but Ghona UP chairman did not excavate the canal. They urged the authorities to investigate into the 'misappropriation' of fund. They also called upon the government to excavate without further delay the silted Malini canal and clear rainwater from the beel area. They alleged that successive governments did not take any step to resolve the water-logging problem although demands were made on numerous occasions since 2001. Contacted, Ghona UP chairman refuting the allegations said he had excavated the canal as per schedule at a cost of Tk 3 lakh.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments