Illegal bamboo enclosures block flow of Gaznar Beel
Fishermen backed by local influential people have set up dozens of illegal bamboo enclosures at different points in Gaznar Beel, one of the largest water bodies in the district, blocking the natural flow of water, much to the worry of local farmers.
The local administration have recently demolished some bamboo enclosures.
A mobile court, led by Sujanagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Rawshan Ali, raided Horer Beel, Beel Gondohosti and Badai point. During the drive, the mobile court demolished 10 big bamboo enclosures.
Locals said in the name of fishing, a group of influential people have set up a number of barriers blocking the natural flow of the water body. They set up bamboo enclosures with current nets, causing waterlogging.
Due to waterlogging, crop cultivation in the area is being badly hampered, said the UNO.
"Informed by locals, we have raided Horer Beel, Beel Gondohosti and Badai point and removed 10 bamboo enclosures. Nobody has the right to block the natural flow of the water body," he said.
Upazila agriculture officer Md Moynul Haque Sarkar said there are 17 thousand hectares of cultivated land in Gaznar Beel. Of them, around 10 thousand hectares are yet to be cultivated as floodwater remain stagnant in the water body due to the barriers.
He added that Gaznar Beel is filled up during flood. But later, the floodwater cannot be drained out timely as a group of people set up illegal bamboo enclosures there for fishing, much to the inconvenience of farmers.
The agriculture officer said about eight to 10 thousand hectares of land are submerged for five to six months ever year. So the crop cultivation in Aman season and winter season is badly hampered here.
Md Habibur Rahman Habib, chairman of Bangladesh Rural Development Cooperative Foundation, said in 2012, Tk 413 core has been spent for the development of Gaznar Beel for the sake of cultivation but everything now seems meaningless because of the waterlogging.
He further added that some influential people have halted the flow of the water body by setting up illegal bamboo enclosures. It has happened due to the negligence of the local administration and the lack of timely action.
The drive will continue to remove the illegal bamboo enclosures in Gaznar Beel, said the UNO.
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