Flood hits hard Muhuri Project fisheries

CHITTAGONG, Aug 24 (UNB): Fishes worth Tk 150 million have been washed away from different water bodies under the Muhuri Project due to the onrush of water from hills triggered by heavy rainfall over the last few days.

Local people said the rainfall-inflicted onrush of water from the hills coupled with the tidal water have washed away the cultured fishes of 150-200 water bodies under the Muhuri Project, a fisheries project covering large area in the upazila.

The income of about 400 fish farmers will be largely affected by the incident.

Sources concerned said a five-kilometre-long embankment that was built along the Mirsarai part of the Feni river in 1985, had resulted into the emergence of vast char on the riverbed adjacent to the structure.

Many people took lease lands on the char and built up fish farms.

Every year, about 2,000 tonnes of different fishes worth over Tk 150 million are produced from the fish farms in that area. However, natural disaster over the last few days affected the fish farms causing extensive loss to fish farmers.

Local UP chairman Mozzammel Haque said about five tonnes of fishes are produced in an one acre farm in the project area.