Water-logging a perennial problem in Bhavadaho

BENAPOLE, Aug 12: Bhavadaho has become known as Jashore's sorrow for the perennial water-logging problem.

Bhavadaho sluice gate was constructed in 1961 and soon afterwards, the farmers of Bhavadaho between Jashore's Manirampur, Keshabpur, Abhaynagar upazilas and Phultala and Dumuria upazilas of Khulna started facing floods.

Since 1988, water-logging has turned out to be a permanent problem in the area.

The main reason of the water stagnation was identified as loss of navigability in the rivers flowing through Bhavadaho.

The aggrieved farmers demanded that the navigability of the rivers of the region be restored through implementation of the TRM project as soon as possible.

The sluice gate, built in Bhavadaho area of Bhavanipur village in Abhaynagar upazila of Jashore, was the biggest project during the Pakistan period, which was implemented in 1961.

However, with the passage of time, Bhavadaho is now called 'Jashore 's sorrow' for the persistent water-logging probem.

The riverbeds in Bhavadaho have become filled with accumulated silts. As a result, whenever it rains moderately, the rivers overflow and create water-logging in the area.

Villagers fear that the area will be submerged in knee-deep water if the existing trend of rainfall that started at the end of the Bangla month of Shraban increases.

Manirampur, Keshabpur, Abhaynagar and Sadar upazilas of Jashore and Phultala and Dumuria upazilas of Khulna are surrounded by Mukteswari, Teka, Srihari and Aparbhadra, Harihar and Buribhadra rivers.

Through the rivers of this region, rainwater and upstream water from 53 water-bodies are collected directly and indirectly in Bilbokar, Bilkedaria and Bilkapalia of Manirampur and Abhaynagar upazilas and discharged downstream through Bhavadaho sluice gate.

Mukteswari, Teka, Srihari and Aparbhadra, Harihar and Buribhadra river systems meet at Kashimpur in Keshabpur upazila.

Later the combined water flow falls into the Sibsa River named Bhadra-Teligati-Gangrail.

Twenty-one vent sluice gates were constructed at Bhavadaho in 1961 to retain agricultural fresh water. Later, until 1980, the benefits of sluice gate were reaped.

Since 1970, the main sources of the rivers in the region have been separated from the Padma, causing sea-borne sediments to be dumped into the upstream rivers and canals.

Due to this, during the dry season, a lot of silt is carried from the sea through the Bhadra and Teligati rivers, filling the bottoms of various rivers and their connected canals in the area.

Even four years ago, big fishing trawlers could ply from Bhavadaho sluice gate area through the Sibsa River.

But despite objections from the stakeholders, due to the wrong decision of the Water Development Board, the sluice gate of Bhavadaho was closed and the water is being drained using electric irrigation pumps.

As a result, the leaders of Bhavadaho Water Extraction Struggle Committee and local residents claim that the silt that comes with the tide remains in the river.

Ranjit Bawali, convener of the committee, said a conspiracy of politicians and bureaucrats has turned the township into a permanent watershed by the Water Development Board.

However, there is no alternative to the TRM project to resolve permanent water logging.

Iqbal Kabir Zahid, advisor of Bhabadah Water Drainage Struggle Committee, said,

"Without the TRM project, there is no alternative solution to the water-logging problem of Bhavadaho."

In 2012, the government decided to implement the TRM project. Awami League leader Swapan Bhattacharya threatened the Water Development Board authorities with some terrorists to stop the TRM project, claimed locals.

When the TRM project was accepted again in 2017, Swapan Bhattacharya again canceled the project with the cooperation of the Water Development Board.

SM Sayduzaman, assistant engineer of Water Development Board, said it is possible to restore navigability in the rivers of Bhavadaho as soon as possible through launching the TRM project.

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