Not repaired in 3 decades

Farmers of  Rangabali upazila of Patuakhali are struggling to save their crops from flooding as most of the sluice gates installed on various rivers and canals  remain inoperative due to a lack of maintenance.

According to Water Development Board, in order to protect people's lives and property from natural disasters including floods, WDB constructed about 200km long flood control dams in various riverside areas including Agunmukha, Tentulia, Buragaurang, Darchira of Rangabali upazila. A total of 94 sluice gates were constructed in those dams.

These sluice gates were built in the 90's but have not been repaired ever since. Forty of those sluice gates are now defunct.

During a recent visit to Koralia of Chhotabaishdia union, this correspondent saw that the sluice gate at Agunmukha on Koralia canal has become inoperative. As a result, saline water enters arable land  during the tide.

Other than controlling water levels and flow rates in rivers and canals, sluice gates also are used in wastewater treatment plants. They are also efficient in preserving rainwater.

Meaning, as most of the sluice gates in the areas remain inoperative, farmers are now unable to use fresh water during the irrigation season.

Sobahan Howladar, a farmer of Koralia village,  said, "Aman cultivation requires a lot of water. But due to salinity, we can't use river water. We are also failing to preserve rainwater in absence of a reservoir."

"This year, I wanted to plant Aman in three acres of my land. By the look of things, I'm nowhere near reaching this target," he said.

Although the sluice gate of the Dangar Canal is operational, the natural flow of water in the canal has been disrupted as locals cultivate fish in that waterbody.

"As the canal is getting filled with silt, flooding has become a common issue, damaging our house and crops," said  farmer Solaiman Fakir.

Rangabali upazila agriculture officer Iqbal Ahmed said their target this year was to cultivate Aman on 28,230 hectares of land.

However, crops are being damaged due to saline water as the sluice gates are not working, he said. "They need to be repaired immediately," he added.

Contacted, WDB Kalapara sub-divisional engineer Shaukat Iqbal Mehraj said the matter has been reported to the higher authorities and they will start the repair work soon.