'Free Rayer Khal from encroachers'
Activists in Barisal city also demand its re-excavation
Bamboo fences have been put in a portion of Rayer Khal in Barisal city for fish farming. Unscrupulous people continue to encroach upon the canal, erecting such enclosures and structures at different points of the six-kilometre-long water body. Photo: STAR
Rights activists have demanded immediate steps to free six-kilometre-long Lakutia Rayer Khal (canal), which is flowing through Barisal Sadar and Babuganj upazilas, from illegal occupation. They raised the demand at 'meet the press' progamme jointly organised by Prantajon Trust, Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood and Uttaran, at Barisal Reporters' Unity office on Tuesday. SM Shahzada, executive director of Prantajon Trust, local human rights and civil rights activists Mujibur Rahman Khan, Rafiqul Islam Alim, and Niaz Morshed spoke. They said construction of illegal structures, unplanned sluice gates, small cross-dams, bridge and culverts on the canal are contributing to the death of Rayer Khal. The participants said more than 2,700 families of fishermen and farmers depend on the canal for fishing and supplying water to around 1,000 acres of farmland, but a section of unscrupulous people are gradually grabbing the canal under the nose of the local administration. Rayer Khal was excavated from Lakutia Zamindar Bari during British period and joined with Jail Khal at Natun Bazar area of Barisal city. They demanded re-excavation and preservation of the canal so that the farmers of the areas can supply their produces to Barisal, Babuganj, uzirpur, and Banaripara upazilas, using this canal. Rights activists also called for immediate steps to save major water bodies in and around Barisal city as they are going to disappear due to encroachment on them. Barisal had nearly 600 water bodies, including canals. But the indiscriminate act of filling in the water bodies for commercial and residential purposes has reduced their number significantly, they said, requesting the authorities concerned to construct embankments and walkways on both sides of the canals and dredge them to maintain their navigability. They said non-existence of sufficient ponds or water bodies is not only posing threat to the environment, but also causing ecological imbalance, water-logging, health and sanitation problems. The participants urged the city corporation and other authorities concerned to take immediate steps to stop encroachment upon Rayer Khal and save ponds and water bodies in the city from land sharks.
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