Almost Gone

Taltala canal, once a two kilometre-long vital waterbody flowing through Khulna city, is approaching extinction due to indiscriminate garbage dumping.

Today, the canal's bed is almost filled with garbage, grass, weeds and aquatic plants.

On top of locals throwing household waste into it, there are many illegal occupiers of the waterbody as well, the most blatant of which are cattle farms built on a portion of the canal.

There's around 25 establishments like them there, with not an inch of water to be seen on the surface.

In fact, if one didn't know it beforehand, they won't even be able to tell that it used to be an important water-body.

As a result of this, the canal has been unable to play any role in discharging water from the city.

Moreover, it has also become a hotbed of mosquito breeding.

Locals and experts said the canal will soon disappear completely if large-scale excavations are not carried out.

It already looks like a barren piece of land, choked by water hyacinth, bushes and shrubs.

The canal starts from the opposite side Karim Nagar residential area on Sonadanga- Notunrasta road and merges with the Mayur river, which flows through the city.

Visiting the area last week, this correspondent found the once 60 feet wide waterbody reduced to a mere 25 to 30 feet.

One of the reasons behind this can be attributed to the construction of two roads by Khulna City Corporation on both sides.

Abdur Rahim (67), a resident of the area, said the canal's demarcation was marked ten to eleven years ago, while it was dug in 2015.

However, the excavation wasn't executed properly.

"While the works were going on, the soil was placed by the side of the canal.

Gradually, a road was created to move through the soil. Later, the city corporation built a road around 15 feet in width, which came to be known as Haji Abdur Rahman Road," he further said.

"Large boats used to sail through it. People even fished here," said local Abul Kalam.

"Today, the neighbouring areas get submerged because water can't pass through the canal. Even then, if the canal was dug properly, there wouldn't be any waterlogging in Boyra, Chhoto Boyra and Karim Nagar areas."

People living in nearby villages once relied on it to transport goods to and from Khulna city, he added.

"The canal is so polluted that cattle or other animals get sick from drinking its water," said Roksana Begum of Karim Nagar.

"Those who illegally occupy it even put up signs and fences, pretending to own the land," a frustrated Roksana said.

According to KCC, an estimation process is underway to excavate the canal.

It was demarcated once in 2009, but it soon got occupied again.

Nuruzzaman Talukder, estate officer of Khulna City Corporation, said project worth Tk 823 crore is underway to reduce waterlogging and develop drainage system in the city.

He said the canal will be excavated with side walls on both sides under the project.

Once completed, there will be walkways on its both sides, the official added.

Regarding the construction of a road over the canal, he admitted to it and said, "It's common practice in Khulna city for people to build houses and other establishments on the banks of waterbodies in this manner. They don't even leave any space for roads."

"This canal is no different in that regard. If we did not build the road, then people would find it difficult to navigate the area. We had no choice but to do it this way," the official said.