Staff Reporter, Kishoreganj :
Semi-ripe and raw boro crops in the haor area of Kishoreganj are being submerged due to the water coming down from the upper reaches. Several crop protection dams are under threat. In Haor Upazila Itna in Kishoreganj and Khaliajuri upazila in Netrokona, to control the situation, farmers are being called to protect the dam by filling the soil with miking from mosques and madrasas. In this situation, the farmers are using tin-wood to save the spade and the dam.
It is learned that from Saturday afternoon till now, the hill slopes and rain water coming from upstream have submerged the boro paddy in the different areas of Dhanpur, Mriga and Sadar Union of Haor upazila of Kishoreganj. Ershad Nagar of Itna Sadar, Bara Bazar, Chira Gang, Balda Ferry Ghat, Kulivita area, have been submerged and semi-ripe and raw paddy lands have been submerged.
Joysiddhi Dam and Jiul Dam are under threat due to water pressure. Upazila administration and local people’s representatives are working to protect the dam in collaboration with local farmers.
According to WDB , the Watet Development Board has made all kinds of preparations to deal with the situation in the risky areas.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Kishoreganj Office said, to assess the damage by inspecting the sunken paddy lands and areas is going on.
Itna Sadar Union Parishad (UP) chairman Sohag Mia said that several hundred hectares of boro crop land had already been submerged.
Apart from this, strong currents of hill slope are also hitting Jur Beel Dam and Joule Dam along with crop protection dam called Halal Dam. He claimed that the upazila would be ruined if overflowing water could enter the halal dam.
Haor farmers are being urged to unite by filling new soil and protecting other dams including halal dams by miking from mosques, madrasas and maktabs.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) in Kishoreganj Mohammad Shamim Alam said that the land was suddenly submerged by a hill slope. We are working together to repair high-risk dams.
Water Development Board (WDB) Executive Engineer in Kishoreganj Engineer Matiur Rahman told that the volume of damage will be reduced as we have completed the dam construction projects on time. Even then, round-the-clock supervision is going on. We are ready with manpower if there is any risk.
Deputy Director (DD) , Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Kishoreganj Agriculturist Saiful Alam said that the rising boro crop in a large area of Itna Haor Upazila has been submerged due to hill slopes and untimely floods.
However, it has not been possible to determine to what extent crop land has been submerged so far. I am requesting the farmers to cut all the crops that are eighty percent ripe. He hoped there would be no major damage if the rains continued for a few days.
