The re-excavation of an 11-kilometre long canal at a cost of Taka 4.20 crore was inaugurated in Shibganj upazila of the district on Thursday.
Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Ministry Dr Samil Uddin Ahmed Shimul inaugurated the construction work as the chief guest.
A function was arranged on the occasion in Borodara Bridge area in the upazila with the Executive Engineer of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), Chapainawabganj Mamun-Or-Rashid in the chair.
Durning the inauguration, BMDA officials, officials of the upazila administration, public representatives and Awami League leaders were present.
With a view to conserving water in canals from the river Mohananda through irrigation a scheme to re-excavate Borodara and Bhurbhura canals in the upazila was taken up under "Extension of Irrigation in Barind Area through Conservation of Water in Canal-2nd Phase," it was disclosed in the function.
It was further disclosed that after the completion of the re-excavation programme, 1,000 hectares of agricultural land would be brought under irrigation from surface water and 5,000 farmers would be benefited.
The scheme was taken to reduce pressure on underground water, develop environment, conserve biodiversity and turn the agricultural lands from one crop to three crops, the speakers mentioned.