Jomuneshwari river dries up as dry season begins

RANGPUR, Feb 02: As dry season has begun, the river Jomuneshwari, flowing through Rangpur district has dried up. Due to lack of water, the ecosystem of the river is in peril.

The river is losing its navigability quickly, making transportation difficult and endangering the livelihood of the people who depend on fishing and agriculture, sources said.

Visiting some areas at Mithapukur and Taraganj upazilas it was found that the dried up river bed has now become crop field. A good number of shoals have appeared on the bed of the river.

Local people living beside the Jomuneshwari said that once a good number of boats with goods used to ply in the river. But this situation has changed now.

Presently, the mainstream of the river cannot be found anywhere except a narrow line noticeable only at some places.

The river hardly remains navigable except in the rainy season. It remains non-navigable for six to seven months during the year.

Bullock carts, horse carts are seen moving and children are found playing cricket and football on the dried up riverbeds.

Businessmen and traders of the region have to incur huge losses, sources said.

Idris Ali (55), a fisherman who lives close to the river at Chharan area under Mithapukur upazila said hundreds of fishermen who used to earn their livelihood by fishing in the river are leading their lives in misery owing to scarcity of water as well as fish in the river.

Many fishermen had become compelled to give up their ancestral profession owing to lack of sufficient fish to earn their livelihood, he added.

Sources alleged that all the rivers under the region are in same condition at present. Lack of excavation or dredging has contributed to worsening the situation that put irrigation and fish production at stake.

In this situation people of the region apprehend that the water levels of the major rivers might fall alarmingly which will create negative impact on environment within next few years. They urged the government to take necessary steps in this regard.

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