80 khas ponds in Kalapara under illegal occupation

Influential people have occupied at least 80 khas ponds in Kalapara upazila under the district, making the sweet water sources virtually unusable for locals, especially the Rakhines.

The khas pond at Kalachandpara in Kuakata area served as the only source of sweet water there for long.

But some influential men have already built several establishments including concrete structures, occupying a portion of the pond belonging to Patuakhali Zila Parishad (district council).

Some people are cultivating fish occupying Char Dhulashar khas pond while several business establishments have been built occupying Mohipur Bazar khas pond and Haripara khas pond.

A market is being built, filling up a khas pond near Nachnapara under Kalapara municipality, locals said.

Around 80 khas ponds grabbed by local influential people are facing similar conditions, said leaders of Rakhine community.

According to the district administration, there were 108 khas ponds in Kalapara upazila but most of these ponds are now under the occupation of local influential people who have already filled up some of the water bodies and built structures there.

SM Rakibul Ahsan, mayor of Kalapara municipality, said, "We have renovated eight of the 24 khas ponds in the municipality area and set new bathing ghats (spot with stairs) to facilitate locals to use the water."

Contacted, Khan Mosaref Hossain, administrator of Patuakhali Zila Parishad, said steps will be taken to free Kalachandpara khas pond as well as other ponds from occupiers as soon as possible.

Around 200 years ago, many Rakhines from Arakan in Myanmar came to Kalapara area and settled there. They dug a number of ponds to meet the need of drinking water.