Eviction drive underway in Sharsha upazila to protect croplands

Benapole, Nov 4: The local administration has started an eviction drive in rivers, canals and bills in three unions in Sharsha upazila of Jessore district on Friday, aiming to check waterlogging and protect croplands.
The Upazila River Protection Committee, led by Sharsha upazila administration, evicted illegal structures from the canal of Bahilapota and several bills of Laxmanpur union, illegal dams from Natadigha, Bujtala and Amarkhali canals and Kodla river under Bahadurpur Union.
Local people said that vegetables, rice and jute go under water every year due to illegal dams in different canals constructed by a group of influential people of the area.
Aman paddy was cultivated on 18,000 hectares last year while only 2000 hectares of land brought under Upshi and hybrid Aman paddy cultivation this year due to illegal encroachment of river, canals., according to the Sharsha Agricultural Office sources,
Sharsha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Pulak Kumar Mondal said that a group of influential people of the same area has been cultivating fish constructing dams illegally in Nadadiagha and Padmabilan areas. Eviction of illegal establishments from rivers, canals and bills will continue, said the UNO.
During the drive, the UNO fined Ataur Rahman of Dhanaykhola village, Tk 10,000, in default, to suffer three months imprisonment for blocking the flow of water constructing illegal dam in Satrail bill.    -UNB