POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Apr 16, 2022 : Due to heavy rains in Meghalaya, India, the country’s rivers are rising again. In Sunamganj and Netrokona, farmers engaged in harvesting boro paddy in haors as well as protecting dams are at new risk. In the meantime, the dam in Tahirpur has collapsed. Waves created in the water are going over the dam.
Rice harvesting is being hampered.
In Gazipur and Tangail areas, crop fields have been submerged due to rising river water.
are being urged to harvest paddy by miking in different areas.
Citing the Sunamganj Water Development Board Flood Forecast and Warning Center at 2pm yesterday, the Sunamganj Water Development Board (Paubo) said in its bulletin that rivers in Sunamganj, Sylhet, Netrokona, Kishoreganj and Habiganj districts are rising rapidly. After reviewing the mathematical models of Bangladesh Meteorological Department and Meteorological Department of India, it was reported that heavy rains are expected in different parts of Meghalaya and Assam provinces of India. Rising water levels in Sunamganj, Sylhet, Habiganj, Kishoreganj and Netrokona rivers may exceed the danger level. There is a high risk of flood in the district in 24 to 72 hours.
Sources further said that Cherrapunji in India has received 26 mm of rainfall in the last 48 hours. Rain water is coming down through the rivers.
On 2 April, the Nazarkhali dam at Tanguar Haor broke. Since then, water pressure has risen in 16 projects of the extended Gurma crop protection dam in Tahirpur upazila of Sunamganj adjacent to Tanguar Haor. On April 4, some parts of the crop protection dams numbered 23, 25, 36 and 39 collapsed. Since that day, more than two hundred farmers of Haorpar have been working day and night to protect the crop protection dam. District and upazila administrations and local people’s representatives are supervising the work. They have worked day and night even on New Year’s Day.
Farmers said that one part of the dam was protected from the increased gurma crop protection but the other part was collapsing again. About 20 feet of space in two parts of the 25th and 36th dams of the dam collapsed yesterday morning. Paddy harvesting has started from the land included in the Gurma crop protection dam. However, the farmers said that it would take another 12 days to complete the harvest.
Local South Sreepur Union Parishad (UP) chairman Ali Ahmed Murad said, “There were storms and rains at night. The water level in the river has also increased. The dam collapsed again at two places. We are all working together to repair the dam. ‘
Tara Mia, a farmer from local Ramsinghpur village, said, “I have been in Baghmarakanda of Project No. 25 for 11 days. Eating, bathing is not okay. When the crop is doubled, the whole year’s meal is over. He complained that the dam of Project 25 (Baghmara) had crossed the Paubo River. He did not take our word for it. That is why this permanent dam has become so dangerous this year. ‘
Tahirpur Upazila Agriculture Officer Hasan Ud Daula said 750 hectares of paddy land has been harvested in Tahirpur Upazila till yesterday.
Extended Gurma Haor at 11 pm, said UNO Tahirpur. Raihan Kabir said that strong waves are being created in the air in Tanguar Haor. Waves are flowing over each dam. However, the dam has survived.
Meanwhile, boro paddy is sinking in Gazipur due to sudden rise in water level in Turag river. Meanwhile, hundreds of bighas of paddy in Islampur, Kadda, Basan, Lathibhanga, Itahata, Kanthaliapara and Majlishpur areas have been submerged. The disoriented farmer sees the crop of misery sinking in front of his eyes. Many are cutting raw or semi-ripe paddy.
According to the Gazipur District Agriculture Extension Department, roro paddy has been cultivated in 12,215 hectares of land in Gazipur Sadar this year. The water coming from upstream is increasing daily in the beels and low lands of Turag river bank.
It was seen on the spot on Thursday that the paddy of some fields is green and the fields are only golden. The water of the river has entered the bill and the paddy is drowning in many places. Farmers are cutting half-ripe paddy with boats and banana rafts. Women and children are not sitting.
Monir Hossain, a farmer from Majlishpur area, said the river has been rising since Sunday. At the same time, their dreams are sinking in front of their eyes. Because hundreds of farmers in the area depend on this roro paddy. The food of the family members, the household expenses all come from this crop. In the meantime, 80 percent of the bill crop has sunk. And after 10-15 days the farmer could take the ripe paddy home.
Hundreds of acres of crops in the surrounding area have been submerged due to sudden rise in river water at Mirzapur in Tangail. Jhenai and Bangshai rivers flow through the upazila. Every year during the dry season, the bottom of these rivers and the shores of the riparian areas wake up. In these vast chars, local farmers cultivate various vegetables including boro paddy.
On Thursday, Latifpur Union’s Shehratail, Tenparapara Panchpara, Patharghata of Tarafpur Union, Chakaleshwar, Nichindpur, Sutanari, Fatehpur, Thalpara and Bankata areas were found to be flooded with paddy. According to the locals, the tidal water is still flowing in the place where the green ceremony was held a week ago.
Farmers Shamshu Mia and Apel Mia of Thalpara village said that this year’s paddy yield was higher than all other years. Untimely water has shattered the dreams of the farmers of this area.
Mirzapur Upazila Agriculture Officer Sanjay Kumar Pal said people from the agriculture office were trying to assess the damage in the area.
According to the Netrokona District Agriculture Extension Department, a total of 20,110 hectares of paddy has been harvested in the district till yesterday. There is still 21,060 hectares of land in Haor and 1,42,756 hectares of land left to be harvested.
Farmers said that they are scared of the remaining paddy as the water level in Dhanur continues to rise. The five-kilometer section of the dam in Kirtankhola area of Khaliajuri upazila has been damaged due to water pressure and is at risk. If the dam breaks, all the paddy of the land will be submerged in the blink of an eye.
(Information provided by the concerned area in preparing the report)
