130 canals of two Patuakhali upazilas grabbed

One hundred and thirty canals in two upazilas of the district have allegedly been grabbed by local influential people, greatly hampering cultivation on around 12,000 hectares of land.

One hundred and eight of the canals are under Galachipa upazila and the rest 22 are under Dumki upazila. Galachipa Agriculture Office has prepared a list of the canals that have been grabbed and are being used for agriculture or fish cultivation.

Of those canals, 16 are in Dakua union, 14 in Bakulbaria, 13 in Ratandi-Taltali, 12 in Galachipa, 10 in Kalagachia, eight each in Panpattee, Chiknikandi, Gajalia and Char Biswas, five each in Amkhola and Golkhali and one in Galachipa municipality, UpazilaAgriculture Officer (UAO) Abdul Mannan said. 

Around 29 canals were leased showing them as agricultural land. Most of canals were leased out till 2008, and the leasing was stopped in 2009. Local influential people then allegedly started grabbing canals by turning them into agricultural land through earth filling, or into ditches or ponds by building cross dams.

A local influential man Jamal Chowkider turned the Douri Canal into agricultural land by filling its northern side. Abdul Haque, a local farmer, said natural flow in the canal was greatly hampered during the rainy season, adversely affecting paddy cultivation in the area.

Rejecting the allegation, Jamal said he took lease of agricultural land, not a canal.

Local influential people turned the Memsaheb Canal in Ratandi-Taltali area into ditches or ponds by building several cross dams on it, stopping the natural flow of water.

Like Douri and Memsaheb canals, many canals, including Rahimar Canal of Naluabagi, Lakiar Canal, Gazir Canal, Tara Canal and Patabunia Canal, in different areas have been grabbed. 

The UAO said there are 33,800 hectares of cultivable land under the upazila and cultivation on around 10,000 hectares has been greatly hampered as these canals have been grabbed.

“We will send a report to the higher authorities, seeking re-excavation of the canals after freeing them from the grabbers,” he added.

Galachipa Upazila Parishad Chairman Md Shamsuzzaman said some influential people turned canals into ponds or ditches by building cross dams after taking lease. Some also turned them into agricultural land by changing the classification from canal to agricultural land.

“We will take step to free these canals to regain their natural flows,” he said.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Rezaul Karim said he has asked the agriculture officer to prepare a list of grabbed canals. “We will take action after the list is prepared,” he added.

In Dumki upazila, about 22 canals have alleged been grabbed by influential people. The important ones are Dumki-Patabunia canal near Pirtala Bazar, Satani Khal, Jamlar Khal, Koharjor Khal, Dangar Khal, Boyrar Khal, Noldoani Khal, Kadomtala Khal, Board-office Khal, Hatem Alir Khal, Dostorkhali Khal, Sikderkhali Khal, Kobirtokhali Khal, Fediar Khal, Godar Khal and Kocchopia Khal.

Over 100 establishments have been built occupying Dumki-Patabunia Khal, while over 50 establishments have been built on Satani Khal.

Union Parishad Member Sohrab Hossain Master is building a permanent structure occupying Satani Khal.

“I am building a house here for personal use, but I have stopped the construction now,” he said.

He refused to comment any further.