Water flow obstruction hampers agriculture in Dulali Beel

LALMONIRHAT, Aug 3 (BSS): Over 100 farmers are facing difficulties in cultivating paddy on their lands in 'Dulali Beel' at Falimari village under Aditmari upazila here as a group of local influential men started a fish project blocking the natural water flow.

Sources with the local administration said, in the wake of protests from paddy farmers, Aditmari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO)issued an order on 25 July for removing obstruction to the normal water flow.

The paddy farmers recently held a human chain demanding water supply to their paddy fields and accordingly submitted a written complaint to the deputy commissioner (DC) on June 10.

"We have been farming Aman and Boro paddy on our lands every year and the beel is an open water body where all the villagers catch fish freely," said farmer Pratap Chandra Roy.

He alleged that the fish project owners belonging to local BNP are creating hindrance.

While contacted, chairman of Velabari Union Parishad and also the president of Aditmari upazila unit of BNP Mohammad Ali denied his involvement with the project.