Golpata collection goes on in Sundarbans
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
Our Correspondent
KHULNA, Dec 17: Thousands of Bawalis or golpata collectors are passing busy days as collection of the large shiny leaves is going on in full swing in the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world. Bawalis started collecting golpata from 15 December and it will continue till 15 February next. About 20 thousand Bawalis are employed this year and the government earns huge revenue from this sector.
Golpata is in high demand as it is a common material used for building shades and walls in rural areas adjoining the Sundarbans.
Jahir Uddin Ahmed, DFO of Sundarbans West Division in Khulna said they had set a target to collect over 0.5 million maunds of golpata from the west divisions of the Sundarbans in the current season and the permits have been given to the Bawalis to collect Golpata from three coupes under Khulna and Satkhira range of Sundarbans.
According to sources, the government earned revenue to the tune of over Tk 4.7 million from 170,866 quintals of golpata earlier.
Locals said some Bawalis, however, in collusion with some corrupt officials were collecting leaves far exceeding the allowed limit of 500 maunds per boat.
It has been alleged that a section of unscrupulous men were involved in trafficking Sundari timber with the leaves illegally.
Bawali Shamsul Alam Sheikh said, "As we have to offer kickbacks at every stage of collecting golpata, we collect some more amount out of it to make up for the loss."
Abdul Goni Sarder, Bawali of Koyra Upazila said that the coupes have been controlled strictly by the forest department than the previous years.
However, the authority has set up check-posts at various points of the forest to stop smuggling of timber.
KHULNA, Dec 17: Thousands of Bawalis or golpata collectors are passing busy days as collection of the large shiny leaves is going on in full swing in the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world. Bawalis started collecting golpata from 15 December and it will continue till 15 February next. About 20 thousand Bawalis are employed this year and the government earns huge revenue from this sector.
Golpata is in high demand as it is a common material used for building shades and walls in rural areas adjoining the Sundarbans.
Jahir Uddin Ahmed, DFO of Sundarbans West Division in Khulna said they had set a target to collect over 0.5 million maunds of golpata from the west divisions of the Sundarbans in the current season and the permits have been given to the Bawalis to collect Golpata from three coupes under Khulna and Satkhira range of Sundarbans.
According to sources, the government earned revenue to the tune of over Tk 4.7 million from 170,866 quintals of golpata earlier.
Locals said some Bawalis, however, in collusion with some corrupt officials were collecting leaves far exceeding the allowed limit of 500 maunds per boat.
It has been alleged that a section of unscrupulous men were involved in trafficking Sundari timber with the leaves illegally.
Bawali Shamsul Alam Sheikh said, "As we have to offer kickbacks at every stage of collecting golpata, we collect some more amount out of it to make up for the loss."
Abdul Goni Sarder, Bawali of Koyra Upazila said that the coupes have been controlled strictly by the forest department than the previous years.
However, the authority has set up check-posts at various points of the forest to stop smuggling of timber.