Water hyacinth clogs riverways
Water communication in different areas, especially Nazirpur upazila and some parts of Nesarabad upazila, is being hampered badly for excessive presence of water hyacinths in the canals and rivers.
For three months of the year from November, most of the canals in Nazirpur upazila become blocked with water hyacinths, hampering water communication. Water transport is the main means of communication there, especially in the marshlands.
Malikhali, Kalardoania, Dewlbari-Dobra unions of Nazirpur upazila and some parts of Nesarabad upazila of Pirojpur and nearby Banaripara upazila of Barishal are marshlands where hyacinths grow abundantly.
At the beginning of winter, these water plants are pushed away from the crop fields and spread to different areas through canals and rivers.
“People of my union have to face trouble going to their destinations as the canals get covered with water hyacinths,” said Md Waliullah, chairman of Dewlbari-Dobra Union Parishad in Nazirpur, adding that the situation continues for three to four months.
“Water hyacinths become so thick that it is difficult to make space through them for movement,” said Ripan Mistry of Gaokhali village, adding that they have to wait for hours while travelling by boat until high tide removes the plants.
Water transport users said motorised boats sometimes stop as water hyacinth gets entangled with their propellers.
Excessive flow of water hyacinth also hampers water communication at nearby areas of Nazirpur upazila, too. The plants enter the canals with the tide and block them.
“If the water hyacinths can be used for making fertilizer or for other purposes, it will be beneficial for us and also make our communication smoother,” said Delowar Hossain of Gaokhali village.
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