Tk 750cr project for irrigation launched in Barguna

A Tk 751 crore project has begun in Barguna to facilitate agricultural activities, including irrigation to a large extent in the area.

Bangladesh Water Development Board has initiated the project in Amtali upazila, to ease sufferings of locals including farmers.

Local lawmaker Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu inaugurated the work on March 24 in presence of WDB Southern Region Chief Engineer and Project Director, Mojibur Rahman.

Amtali Municipality Mayor, Matiar Rahman, was the special guest at the inaugural session.

Under the project, four dams constructed on Sugandhi canal will be removed, 12 sluice gates will be installed, five culverts will be constructed, and 61km of canals will be re-excavated, said officials.

Local farmers said the dykes hamper irrigation in the area, resulting in less crop production.

Now around one lakh farmers and locals from three unions under Amtali upazila are seeing a ray of hope to recover losses, following the project inauguration.

Shahabuddin Panna, a development activist, said Sugandhi canal is very important for the area as it is connected to the Ramnabad channel and the Payra river.

In 2009, several dams were constructed on this canal to stop its normal flow, he said.

This 71km long canal with several branches has gradually been polluted and grabbed, obstructing its normal flow.

Shahabuddin Panna, executive director of Nazrul Smriti Sangsad, a local NGO, said, "We conducted a survey three years ago."

According to its findings, about one lakh farmers in Chowra, Haludiya, Amtali and a part of Amtali municipality incur a loss of about Tk 250 crore annually due to less crop production.

Sudipta Chowdhury, sub-divisional engineer of Barguna Water Development Board, said the project is expected to be completed on December 24 at a cost of Tk 751 crore.