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Saline water floods farmlands due to mindless sand lifting

Victims at Kuakata village blame a housing company

Our Correspondent, Patuakhali
Several hundred farmers formed a human chain at Khajura village of Kuakata area under the district yesterday, demanding early steps to save their standing crops and farmlands from continuous intrusion of saline water, caused allegedly by sand lifting by a housing company.
To make plots at Khajura village, about three kilometres to the west of Kuakata Zero Point, Yes Bangla, a housing company, started lifting sand through pipes on Thursday.
Saline water coming with the sand has already flooded around lOOhectaresoffarm-land with aman crop, affecting 500 families.
Sweet water sources like ponds and canals have also become polluted due to mixing of saline water.
"Many of us could not complete harvesting our aman paddy as saline water that comes with sand from the nearby housing project over-flooded the cropland. Upcoming robi cultivation also faces uncertainty due to the situation," said Abul Hasem Musulli, a local farmer.
"Our domestic animals like cows and buffaloes are facing problem of drinking water as sources of sweet water are getting polluted by saline water. Immediate step should be taken to save our agricultural land from saline water," said Abul Hossain, another farmer who took part in the human
chain.
Habibur Rahman, president of Orca Abason PoUi, a cluster village set up by the Red Crescent to rehabilitate 80 families, said, "Continuous lifting of saline water causes permanent damage to soil fertility. If the callous
act is not stopped, local farmers will borrow untold sufferings."
After visiting the area on Monday, Kalapara Upazila Agriculture Officer Moshiur Rahman, said, "Local farmers are suffering much as saline water is causing vari-
ous problems in the area. I am preparing a report on the matter to send to the higher authorities to take step in this regard."
When contacted, Kalapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jahangir Hossain said they were also taking
steps to save the agricultural lands.
Siddique Master, local agentofYes Bangla, declined to make any comment in this regard although this correspondent contacted him several times on the mobile.