Three rubber dams unused for four years in Lalmonirhat
Rubber dams were built over three rivers in three upazilas of the district four years ago, but they have not been put into operation as yet.
Executive Engineer of Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in Lalmonirhat Al-Amin Khan said three rubber dams have been constructed in the district at a cost of Tk 30.84 crores. The construction was funded jointly by Asian Development Bank and the government.
The dams will supply water to 1,550 hectares of land in three upazilas, he added.
The dam over Ratnai river at Shalmara village in Aditmari upazila is 30 metres long, the one over Saniyazan river at Gaddimari village in Hatibandha upazila is 90 metres long, and the one over the Dharla river at Bangkanda village in Patgram upazila is 130 metres long.
Farmer Mozammel Haque, 50, of Saniyazan village in Hatibandha upazila said they do not know when the dam over the river Saniyazan will start supplying irrigation water. “Due to lack of water we cannot grow paddy on our lands,” he added.
Sultan Hossain, 62, of Bangkanda village in Patgram upazila said farmers were prepared to cultivate IRRI-boro during the current season as they expected to get water from the dam over the Dharla river, but it has not come into operation.
Hatibandha Upazila Engineer of LGED Ajoy Kumar said the dam over the river Saniyazan will come into operation in the next season after the connecting pipeline is installed by the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation.
Hatibandha Upazila Agriculture Officer Anowar Hossain said some farmers downstream of the rubber dam are farming crops on the river bed, so they do not want the dam to be in operation. “We are talking with the farmers on both sides to solve the problem. The dam will be in operation very soon,” he added.
Patgram Upazila Agriculture Officer Noor Alam said the dam over the Dharla river has not been opened as farmers have cultivated tobacco and maize instead of paddy. “We are encouraging farmers to grow paddy so that we can use the rubber dam,” he added.
Al-Amin Khan said the three dams have been constructed according to the plan and design, and under the direction of experts. LGED only implemented the construction of the infrastructure, which will be used by the agriculture department, he added.
Deputy Director of Lalmonirhat Department of Agriculture Extension Bidubhushon Roy said he does not know about operation of the dams as he has joined recently. The upazila agriculture officers will take steps in this regard, he added.
Farmers urged the authorities concerned to take steps to operate the dams for ensuring supply of irrigation water for growing crops, especially paddy, during the dry season.
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