Boro cultivation hampered as canal blocked for pisciculture
Blocking of a canal for fish farming hampers irrigation for boro cultivation and pollutes environment in Uttar Satla area of Wazirpur upazila under Barisal district.
Recently a group of influential people led by local union unit of Awami League (AL) president Liton Molla started fish farming by blocking the canal at Muchibari, locals said during this correspondent's visit to the area.
Thus they stopped the natural flow of the canal connecting waterways with Wazirpur, Agoiljhara and Gournadi upazilas of the district.
Hundreds of locals dependent on irrigation-based boro farming on around 1,200 acres of land and fishing in the open water body are affected due to the callous act, locals said.
"Boro paddy on my five acres of land is nearly damaged as irrigation is hampered due to blocking of the canal," said Abdul Mannan, a farmer of the area.
Use of poisonous feeds for fish farming is killing sweet water fishes, and crabs in the canal area and the polluted water is causing skin diseases among the locals, said Ayub Mia, another resident of the area.
Several locals said they informed the upazila administration of the matter but failed to get any result as the canal blockers are influential ruling party men.
Sohrab Hossain, upazila nirbahi officer of Wazirpur, said, "None was permitted to start a fish farm by creating any obstacle to the water flow. I will take action in this regard after investigation."
Contacted, AL leader Liton Molla claimed that the fish farm started after discussion with the local people in a meeting held at United School last year.
"That time none opposed it and we have invested Tk 65 lakh for the purpose. Now seeing the prospect of our profit, some people are raising objections," he said.
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