1 km drain troubles villagers

Sinking of a new irrigation pump at Shyampur village in Sadar upazila has created tension among the farmers and pump owners of the village.

A local influential person, without any prior permission from the authorities concerned, has set up an electrically driven irrigation pump next to Shyampur-Bhagabanpur road and dug a nearly one-kilometre-long drain for supplying irrigation water to distant boro fields, hindering movement of vehicles and pedestrians.

He has been operating the pump by taking illegal power connection from a nearby power supply pole of Power Development Board (PDB), locals said.  

Owner of the pump Ripon Akanda said he has been operating it for the last one month taking power connection as per rules, and PDB provided the power connection. But PDB denied giving any new connection this year.

Photo: Star

Other pump owners and local people filed complaints with PDB and Upazila Irrigation Committee.

At present, there are three rural irrigation pumps in the village, each covering 300 square-feet area. The owners, Reza Mia, Shahrul Islam and Abdur Rahman, have been operating the pumps for the last few years.

According to irrigation rules, one 5-inch diameter pump can supply water for 300 to 700 square feet area and there is no scope of setting up any more pumps in the said areas, said Reza Mia, owner of a pump in Maddha Dhanghara village.

Upazila Irrigation Committee President, also upazila parishad Chairman, Rashida Begum said the committee did not approve any new irrigation pump, adding that measures will be taken against the illegal pump owner and he has been asked to stop digging the road.

No power connection is provided to any irrigation pump without approval of the Upazila Irrigation Committee, said Anwarul Islam executive engineer of PDB in Gaibandha, adding that PDB has not given connection to a new irrigation pump this year.