Kalapara Town's lone canal grabbed, no action taken
The lone canal in Kalapara upazila town is nearly dead as local influential people have been filling it over several years. A few hundred structures including business establishments and residences have been built occupying its banks, obstructing water flow to the nearby Andharmanik River.
About 10-km long, the lone canal, locally called 'Chingoria canal,' falls into nearby Andharmanik River after crossing Kalapara municipality area, and has four branches covering all nine wards. It plays an important role in draining waste water from the town.
Kalapara municipality authority re-excavated the canal in 2014 without demolishing the illegal structures along both sides. As a result, the occupiers are building more structures, and the canal is becoming narrower by the day.
The municipality has built a sluice gate at the canal's Nachnapara end, but it has been filled up and water flow has stopped entirely, though another sluice gate built at its other end in the college area and connected with the Andharmanik River is still active. At Nazrul Islam road area, the canal has become especially narrow as locals have grabbed it on a large scale.
Sujon Mridha of Chingoria area in the town said "We raised our voices several times to save the canal, but nobody in the municipality administration has taken any step to improve the situation."
"The canal is a blessing as it plays an important role in keeping the town clean," he added.
Mejbah uddin Babul, a resident of the Orphanage Road area, said municipality authorities should take immediate steps to save the canal, considering the interests of the townspeople.
Contacted, newly elected Kalapara municipality mayor Bipul Howlader said "We will take steps to save the canal by demolishing illegal structures from both sides."
If necessary, re-excavation work will follow, he added.
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