Delay in Draining Out Water: Boro farming on 57 beels faces setback

Boro farming on 57 beels (waterbodies) is facing a serious setback in Jashore's Keshabpur and Monirampur upazilas due to a delay in draining out water from the low lands by influential fish enclosure owners.

As a result, hundreds of farmers in the eastern part of the upazila are in fear that they may not be able to plant Boro saplings in time this season.

Farmers alleged that although they have paid the water drainage bill in advance, owners of the fish enclosures are reluctant to drain out the water during the high time of the ongoing Boro season.

Of the 57 beels, 27 beels are in Keshabpur and 30 in Monirampur upazila.

After monsoon, stagnant water of all the 57 beels are drained out through eight sluice gates at Katakhali and Mangalkot in Monirampur upazila.

The drained-out water of the beels falls into the Srinadi river through Pathra Canal.

Farmer Habibur Rahman of Pathra village said according to the agreements, owners of the enclosures will drain out the stagnant water of the beels within the Bangla month of poush, so that farmers can prepare the low lands for Boro cultivation.

This season the enclosure owners are demanding Tk 1,200 from the farmers for draining out per bigha land, but such condition is not included in their agreements, he alleged.

Even though farmers have already paid Tk 26 lakh as electricity bill, the closure owners are neither returning their money back nor draining out the water timely, they alleged.

Mahiruddin Biswas, present of Water Drainage Committee, said they have set up 19 shallow machines near Pathra sluice gate for draining out water from Panjia-Pathra Beel since December 16 last year.

Meanwhile, water extraction is going on with 20 shallow machines in Buruli sluice gate area, he said, adding that it required diesel worth Tk 2 lakh every day.

Many farmers alleged that although there is a condition to drain out the beels during the winter, the influential enclosure owners are yet to start the draining work of all the beels.

The enclosure owners are reluctant to drain out the beels, because if Boro farming is delayed their fish will get more bigger and earn them good profits, farmers said.

Panjia Union Parishad chairman Jasimuddin said Boro saplings planted on Bagdanga Beel have gone underwater due to stagnant water.