RAJSHAHI, Feb 15: Agriculture land is decreasing in Durgapur Upazila of the district because of unplanned pond digging.
Local influential have started to dig pond on two/three cropping lands in the upazila. They cannot be stopped anyway. So, the croplands in the upazila have been under threat.
According to sources at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), in the last five years, 2,000 to 2,500 ponds were dug in the upazila. Now the number of ponds in the upazila are about 6,000.
Locals and farmers said, in the last five years, thousands of ponds were dug.
The pond digging is continuing in the upazila, creating water-logging. Because of the water-logging, farmers can't cultivate crops.
According to them, in the last five years, 3,000-5,000 ha of cropland decreased in the upazila. So, food crisis is likely in the upazila.
They demanded rapid steps by the authorities concerned. But upazila administration sources said, ponds are not dug widely in the upazila.
Complaint is coming from different corners, and actions are being taken accordingly, the source added.
Farmer Jinnat Ali of Narikelbaria Village said, earlier they could cultivate three crops in Angrar Beel; now one crop is hardly possible; water-logging is sinking croplands.
"Hundreds of bigha of land are under. In connivance with huge land holders, the influentials are carrying out pond digging. We can't face them."
Farmer Montu Ali of the same village said, his land is beside other's land; he has been in problem as the owner of the land has dug pond in it; and his irrigated water is going to the pond.
After informing the upazila administration, they just take away battery of excavator. But after one/two days, the pond digging is resumed.
If protested by locals, they are threatened by the influentials.
Durgapur Upazila Fisheries Officer (additional charge) Tanjumul Islam said, "Durgapur Upazila is rich with fish farming. Fish farming is profitable than crop in this upazila. So, they are digging ponds. We can't stop them."
Five years back, there were 5,900 ponds against 6,150 at present, he added.
About 20,000 tonnes of fish are produced in the upazila. After meeting the local demand, surplus fish is sent to other districts of the country including Dhaka.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Sahanara Pzarvin Laboni acknowledged the cropland decreasing because of pond digging.
"We are working to yield crops in limited lands by using high yielding and rich species," she added.
In the last five years, about 2,000 ha of land decreased, she maintained.
She further said, the agriculture department is trying to protect the agriculture land.
