Two rubber dams have been installed at Eidgaon and Pokkhali on Phuleshwari river, Eidgaon in Cox’s Bazar to ensure irrigation facilities during Boro season. Its purpose was to meet the irrigation needs by storing the water coming from the upstream. But due to lack of rain from the winter season till now, the water did not go down in the river as expected. As a result, the fog and low water coming from the hills has accumulated in the upper reaches of the Eidgaon Rubber Dam. Although the rubber dam is swollen, the river in the Pokkhali rubber dam area is dry.
Due to lack of necessary irrigation, more than 1000 hectares of boro cultivation land in the rubber dam area is bursting to the ground. But in a few days, the rice will start to sprout. In this situation, the farmers are forced to sprinkle water in the paddy fields with pitchers. If this situation of water continues, they are worried about whether Thor will come out on time or not.
Farmers say that Eidgaon Rubber Dam Management Committee is responsible for the water shortage of Pokkhali Rubber Dam dependent farmers. If the accumulated water was distributed equally among them, the cultivation of 1300 hectares of land in Pokkhali and Chaufaldandi Bills would not have suffered.
According to sources, Eidgaon Rubber Dam Management Committee is not releasing water due to less water coming from upstream. As a result, the Pokkhali rubber dam is waterless even though it is inflated. In this situation, Boro paddy and winter vegetable fields cultivated on more than 1,284 hectares of land in Pokkhali, Chaufaldandi and Jalalabad Union of the upazila are drying up and dying.
Farmer Ziaur Rahman of Naikyangdia area of Pokkhali (Ward number 6). He said, ‘I cultivated boro on five acres of land with a loan of two lakh taka. The hope was that after cultivating well and paying off the debt, the whole year would go well. But we are not getting enough water due to rubber dam swelling of late. Trying to irrigate water in a pitcher, but failing. If the crop is destroyed due to lack of water, there will be no way but to commit suicide.’
Helal Uddin, a member of Pokkhali Union Parishad and general secretary of Pokkhali Rubber Dam Management Association, said that two rubber dams have been installed in the Eidgaon river to facilitate farming, but if the water is not released from the Eidgaon rubber dam, the water does not come down. Even though water is stored in Eidgaon rubber dam, the farmers are facing loss due to lack of water due to lack of water.
He said that the little water left last night was consumed by the dry canal. If this situation continues, the farmers who are farming with loans will sit on the way. I tried to solve the crisis and failed again and again. If water is not available quickly, the entire farming system may suffer.
In this regard, Eidgaon Rubber Dam Management Association President Arman Uddin Member said that there has been no rain for the past few months. Water is being wasted due to illegal extraction of sand by shallow machines on the surface of the river. So there is water shortage in our part too. As a result, it is not possible without water at the bottom.
He said, according to the decision of the upazila administration, we released as much water as possible yesterday. If more water is released than this, we have to install a pump and water the land.
Eidgaon Upazila (current duty) Agriculture Officer Zahid Hasan said, a large amount of Boro has been cultivated in Eidgaon. But due to insufficient water in the rubber dam, cultivation of more than a few hundred hectares of Pokkhali area is about to be destroyed. If the crisis is not possible, the loss will increase. However, he mentioned that efforts are being made to solve the crisis.
Upazila Executive Officer Subal Chakma said that a meeting was held with the Eidgaon-Pokkhali Rubber Dam Management Committee. It was decided in the meeting that water will be distributed equally. Failure to do so will result in action being taken.
SR/MS
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