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Sluice gates for whom?

Irrigation by farmers hampered as influential people in Patuakhali use the canals for fish cultivation, keeping the gates closed

SOHRAB HOSSAIN, Patuakhali
Sluice gates meant for controlling water flow and facilitating irrigation in agricultural lands through canals in the coastal district are becoming virtually useless for crop farmers as influential people use the canals for fish cultivation, often keeping the gates closed.
Sluice gates control committees, dominated by the local union parishad chairmen, Water Development Board (WDB) officials, and ruling party men, often ignore the
requirement of the farmers, depriving them of irrigation water in time of necessity.
According to WDB office in Patuakhali, 1,209 kilometres flood control embankments were built in 60s in seven upazilas of the districts to protect agricultural land from saline water from the Bay. The department also built 412 sluice gates, 612 inlets to control water flow and facilitate agricultural activities. To operate the sluice gates smoothly, the WDB appointed a worker called khalashi for each gate.
But during early 90s, new appointment to the post of khalashi stopped and nine-member sluice gate operating committees comprising concerned UP chairman, section officer of WDB, among others, started controlling the gates. There are also farmers' representatives in the committees but their opinions are hardly considered.
Often ruling party men involved in fish cultivation manage to enter the committees and control operation of the sluice gates as they cultivate fishes in the
canals by closing its gates, local farmers said.
Control of the profitable fish cultivation also leads to clashes between influential groups.
In early August, a clash between men of Bangladesh Chhatra League and Jubo League over controlling the sluice at Dabluganj village under Kalapara upazila left at least 30 people injured.
During recent visits to Anantapara, Nayakata, Chapli Bazar, Bablatala, Chardhulashar, Pakkhiapara, Safakhali, Londa, Patua, Devpur, Gazirkhal, Fetahpur, Baintala under Kalapara upazila, this correspondent found sluice gates closed for fish cultivation.
Several farmers seeking anonymity said influential people cultivate fish in the canals and they draw saline water through sluice gates for the purpose, causing harm to crop cultivation.
"The committee men lift water through the sluice gate considering interest of fish cultivation, not agricultural purpose," said Shah Alam Matubbar, a farmer of Chanpara village in Nilganj union under Kalapara upazila.
"Sumon, a union unit leader of BCL, cultivates fish in the canal. In last month, he attacked me when I demanded drawing water by opening the sluice gate for irrigating the crop fields," he said.
Many other farmers did not agree to make any comments due to 'fear' of local influential people.
AKM Abul Basar, sub divisional engineer for WDB in Kalapara, said, "Allegations against some sluice gate committees were discussed in the upazila parishad's meeting in last month. There all the UP chairmen and/or secretaries were asked to submit report over the matter as soon as possible. We will take necessary step after getting the