The continuous rainfall at the beginning of the monsoon has caused severe water logging crisis at different areas of Chakaria in Cox's Bazar. As a result, Aman cultivation in at least 7,000 acres of land in the upazila has become uncertain.
This water logging has occurred due to the inability of rainwater to flow into the river as the canals connected with the Matamuhuri River have been filled with debris. According to the Agriculture Department, more food production will not be achieved in the Aman season if the rain water does not go down.
Alhaj Shawkat Osman, chairman of Chakaria Kakara Union, said his union had accumulated 8 to 10 feet of rainwater in Chaumyakata Beel and Nalbila Beel. The two Nalbila-centric rhymes and the Baishya rhyme are overflowing and the rainwater cannot flow into the Matamuhuri River due to cultivation and construction of houses in the Chhikalghat area.
As a result, Aman is not cultivated in at least 1500 acres of land due to severe waterlogging every monsoon. After informing the administration about this, they assured to take action but no action was taken.
Golam Mostafa Kaishar, chairman of Laksharchar UP, said Aman cultivation has become uncertain due to waterlogging in at least 500 acres of land in the Nalbila part of the union and in the Bainarkum area.
MakkiIqbal, chairman of Kairbil UP, said that due to water logging in his union, it would not be possible to cultivate Aman on at least 150 acres of land in small Veola, KhilChadak, Bharinyarchar, Khojakhali and medium Kairbil.
Nurul Amin, chairman of Dulahazara Union, said aman cultivation in at least 500 acres of land in Ulubania and Pagli Beel areas of Dulahazara has become uncertain due to water logging. This situation has arisen due to accumulation of rainwater as the rhyme of the filled madman has not been dug.
Former UP chairman ATM Ziauddin Chowdhury Zia, a resident of Baraitali, said that due to non-excavation of Sonaichhari canal, HarbangChhara canal, Totakkhali canal and Paharchanda canal, at least 1 lakh plots have been planted in Bibirkhil, Gobindpur, Daingakata, Rasulabad, South Baraitali and Bania. Because. At least 5,000 farming families in the union will be relieved of their food problems if the water level in the Matamuhuri River is diverted by digging the above rhymes.
He further expressed his displeasure and said that even though measures were taken to excavate 8 km upstream of HarbangChhara Cannal on the pretext of removing waterlogging, it was of no use as the lower part was not excavated. As a result, huge cultivable land of Baraitali is submerged under water every monsoon and cultivation is not done. The impoverished farmers are getting frustrated.
Chakaria Upazila Agriculture Extension Office official SM Nasim Hossain said Chakaria is a food surplus upazila. Production is higher than demand. Increasing production would have been more conducive to meeting the demand of the whole country if measures had been taken to remove waterlogging. The higher authorities will be informed in writing in consultation with the UNO, Upazila Chairman and Member of Parliament.
Chakaria UNO Syed Shamsul Tabriz said necessary steps would be taken to ensure Aman cultivation in the rainy season at a meeting of the Upazila Development Coordination Committee with the opinion of the UP chairmen.