Encroachment, pollution threaten Cumilla rivers, canals

CUMILLA, Aug 21: Illegal encroachment and pollution have pushed many rivers, canals and water bodies in Cumilla towards extinction, with influential people occupying government land along their banks and building houses, shops and other structures.

Although the district administration and Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) prepared a list of 2,734 illegal occupiers around seven years ago, no eviction drive has yet been carried out, according to sources.

A recent visit to different areas found canals running through the district's 17 upazilas being occupied, particularly near rural roads, markets and other populated areas.

Influential individuals have allegedly occupied parts of the Gomti, Dakatia and Kakri rivers and numerous canals and water bodies, often constructing semi-permanent and permanent structures and renting them out for commercial purposes.

Following initiatives by the National River Conservation Commission in 2019, the administration took steps to identify illegal occupiers. The BWDB and district administration jointly prepared the list of 2,734 occupiers.

Of them, 937 were in Adarsha Sadar Upazila, 125 in Chauddagram, 173 in Chandina, 14 in Barura, 427 in Burichang, 58 in Nangalkot, 335 in Brahmanpara, 152 in Debidwar, 130 in Daudkandi, 76 in Laksam, seven in Titas, 99 in Muradnagar and 201 in Monoharganj.

Sources said the actual number of illegal occupiers could be much higher.

Residents of the Kakri River area in Chauddagram said illegal structures and waste dumping have reduced the river's navigability and narrowed its width.

"Many rivers and canals are now filled with polluted water, waste and water hyacinth. Influential people have continued the encroachment for years, allegedly with the help of some officials and employees of the BWDB and local administration," they said.

Md Mostafizur Rahman, a college teacher from Aural Village in Chandina, said boats once regularly used the canals to transport paddy, jute and other goods.

"Farmers also used canal water to irrigate their fields and held fishing festivals there. Such scenes are now rarely seen," he said.

Khorhshed Alam of Khalilpur Village in Debidwar said many rural canals were gradually being blocked by encroachment.

"Shops and other structures have been built over canals in markets and populated areas using bamboo, timber and concrete pillars. In some places, even the canals have almost disappeared," he said.

Md Abdullah Al Amin, Acting Supervising Engineer of the Cumilla Water Development Circle, said a list of 2,734 illegal occupiers had been prepared in the past.

"Steps will be taken to evict them. No matter how influential the occupiers are, nobody will be spared," he said.