Canal excavation plan to benefit countless farmers: State minister

RANGPUR, March 18 (BSS): State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad has said many farmers would benefit from the government's canal excavation and re-excavation initiative.
"The government has undertaken a programme to excavate and re-excavate about 20,000 kilometres of rivers and canals nationwide, which will revive dead and extinct water bodies," he said.
The state minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the excavation of Ramakanta Canal in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur under the canal re-excavation programme as the chief guest on Wednesday.
Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Md Shahidul Islam presided over the function.
He said that excavating and re-excavating these canals will increase the availability of conserved surface water during the dry season and help save a large amount of crops from damage.
"The Ramakanta Canal is an important waterway under the jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), and we have gathered today to inaugurate its re-excavation," he said.
Under the canal excavation programme, trees will be planted along both sides of the canal, in line with the initiative to plant 250 million trees within five years, he added.
"This will help create a green belt and maintain environmental balance."
At the same time, it will provide opportunities for fish farming, boosting the income of local communities, the state minister opined.
In addition, employment will increase with greater involvement of workers in canal excavation.
"Through the implementation of these initiatives, it will be possible to develop the country as a self-reliant and food-rich Bangladesh," he said.
The state minister said according to the election manifesto, the government has taken various initiatives for the welfare of farmers.