Aus farming faces uncertainty

A group of local influential people have opened two sluice gates on the Darchira canal in Rangabali upazila, causing uncertainty among farmers over cultivation of Aus paddy as salt water from the Ramnabad river has entered their fields.

The group, led by Azhar Dastor, president of ward No 5 of Borobaishdia union unit of Awami League, opened both sluice gates in Char Gonga around 20 days ago, allowing saline water from nearby Ramnabad river to submerge agricultural land that is becoming unfit for cultivating Aus paddy.

They opened the sluice gates so that they could catch fish entering the canal from the river, ignoring the interest of local farmers, said Md Elias Gazi, a farmer of Char Gonga.

“We can't protest against it as they threaten us. Fishing in the canal is a good source of income,” he added.

Lokman Pyada, another farmer of the same village, said he cultivated Aus paddy on two and a half acres of land last year, but he cannot prepare the seed bed this year as saline water has submerged his land.

Local farmers said Water Development Board set up the sluice gates on the flood control dyke around 15 years ago to protect agricultural land from saline water and waterlogging. But some influential people recently took control over the sluice gates for fishing there.

On a recent visit, this correspondent saw saline water from the Ramnabad river entering through the sluice gates and inundating agricultural land.

Borobaishdia union Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Md Abu Zafar said influential people controlled the sluice gates and allowed saline water to enter the canal for fishing.

Aus cultivation is uncertain this season, he said, adding that saline water should be stopped from entering the fields, considering the interest of local farmers.

Azhar rejected the allegation, saying that he did not control the sluice gates, which are almost inoperative. He declined to make any more comment over the matter.

Borobaishdia Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Abu Hasanat Abdullah said some farmers informed him of the matter, adding that he asked the influential people to hand over control of the sluice gates to local farmers, but in vain.

Kalapara Circle Water Development Board Executive Engineer Md Abul Khayer said if anyone submits a complaint over the matter, they will take steps considering the interest of the farmers.

“We had decided that the sluice gates would be operated to help the local farmers, but we have learnt that an influential section is controlling the gates forcibly to catch fish,” said Rangabali Upazila Chairman Md Delwar Hossain

“We will take steps on behalf of the farmers,” he added.