SYLHET, Feb 14: More than 25 small rivers in Sunamganj district needs immediate dredging as vast haors had already lost their navigability due to siltation for years. Farmers at many charland and emerged areas are found engaged in farming of different crops including vegetables during the winter. Due to the unplanned protective works on the rivers and the huge silts are now causing regular flooding and threats for the safe Boro paddy farming, which is considered the main cash crop of this lower region (haor) of the country.
The rivers include Rokti, Boulai, Jadukata, Patlai, Kendua, Atla and Paikortola under Tahirpur upazila, Upper Boulai, Piain, Kanaikhali, in Jamalganj, Ghumai, Monai, Gachhi, Someswari and Kangsho under Dharmapasha, Darain, Dhonu and Kushiyara under Shulla and Ajmiriganj, Jadukata, Rupsha and Ghatghatia under Biswambharpur, Nainda and Mora Surma under Dakshin Surma, Kamarkhali and Noljur under Jogonnathpur and Kalni and Chamti in Derai upazila.
Tahirpur upazila vice-chairman Ferdous Alam said there would be no need of temporary protective works on the small habitats on the haors every year if dredging of the rivers were done. It would also help navigation round the year.
On the other hand the heavy silts from the hilly region from across the borders cause much in reducing the navigability of rivers in the district.
Paikurati union chairman of Dharmapasha upazila Ferdousur Rahman said the poor dredging of 9 km on the 20 km long river Ghumai would play nothing. At least 4 km more should be dredged, he added. The river Darain is almost dead although it links the region with Meghna on its down at Bhairab.
Moreover the haors in Derai and Shulla upazila wouldn't be saved if dredging not done there, a number of locals said.
WDB Executive Engineer, Sunamganj, Abu Baker Siddique said the haor region of Sunamganj had already lost the capacity to contain the huge waters. So, all the small rivers should be dredged first. Initially project has been taken up for dredging the internal canals and small rivers, he added.
The WDB is doing some dredging on some places, but things are not sufficient to meet the requirement, he admitted.
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