C T Online Desk: The sluice gate built on the Chhotakumira canal in Basharatnagar village of Syedpur union in Sitakunda has become a poison for the people of the area as it has not been repaired for more than 10 years.
Most of the villages in the adjoining Union Bariardhala, Muradpur and Sitakunda municipalities are submerged in the monsoon rains every year. The Sluicegate was built in 2003 by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) to irrigate agriculture by retaining water during the dry season.
The water used by the sluice gate was also used by the farmers for irrigation for several years. Locals claim that the 100-foot canal has now fallen below 30 feet due to occupation. Besides, the depth has decreased due to siltation in the rainy season.
As a result, the canal has to be vacated, excavated and the rubber dam has to be removed and a bridge has to be built there. However, according to the Water Development Board, a proposal has been sent to the ministry to excavate the canal.
If the proposal is passed, the canal will be excavated by June. The upazila administration says that if the canal excavation work starts, the canal will be brought back to its previous condition by vacating it according to land records.
