Canal blocked for fish cultivation
To cultivate fish in Vuter Khal (canal), a group of local influential people have set up illegal bamboo enclosures halting natural flow of the canal in Barishal’s Mehendiganj upazila.
Originated from the Maskata river, the three-km-long canal connects the Tetulia river in nearby Alimabad and Chargopalpur unions of the upazila, said locals.
Thousands of fishermen and farmers depend on the canal for their livelihood.
Blocking of the canal for fish farming will hamper irrigation for Boro cultivation, said growers.
Gopalpur union parishad (UP) chairman and some local influential persons have been involved in the illegal act, alleged villagers.
Refuting the allegation, Gopalpur UP chairman Shamsul Alam Bari said some villagers put bamboo fences and tree branches across the canal to save thousands of people from river erosion during the rainy season.
He further added such arrangement will not halt the natural water flow of the canal.
Shuvankar Chakrabarty, secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa), Barishal unit, said it is totally illegal to hamper natural water flow of the canal.
He also urged the authorities concerned to free the canal immediately.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Pijush Chandra Dey said he has not heard about the incident but trying to get information on the matter.
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