Govt losing Tk 2m every yr as 13 water bodies not leased out

Our CorrespondentbrRAJSHAHI, Sept 3 Even after the expiry of the term, 13 government khas water bodies of Baghmara upazila in Rajshahi district have not yet been leased out. Illegal occupants are controlling these water bodies. For this reason, the government is losing taka 20 lakh every year. Although the local authorities informed the government to lease out these water bodies, the government is paying little or no attention to it.brSources said, the government published tender notices to lease out some 350 khas water bodies in this upazila during last March. But another 13 water bodies were not included in the tender. Upazila Barind Project office sources said, the term of these 13 water bodies expired during the summer last year. These water bodies are situated in Goalkandi, Shadopara, Bangalpara, Hulikhali, Basupara, Madina, Beelbari, Somashpara, Konda and Chadpur. brThe illegal occupants who are controlling these water bodies have been identified as Babul Hossain, Nittananda, Abdul Aziz, Khoibor Ali, Abdul Jabbar, Abul Hossain and Soleman.brMr. Saijuddin, working for Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) as assistant engineer in Baghmara zone and a member of water body lease committee said, higher authorities had not given any order to lease these water bodies and they would float a tender notice in this connection as soon as the order came. brLocal people, however, demanded that these water bodies should be leased out as soon as possible.