Just a few decades ago, 14 canals in five unions of Karnaphuli upazila were operational. Those canals were connected with the Karnaphuli river which runs through the four sides of the upazila. Once upon a time, large sampans, barges, peacocks, dinghies, sailing pansies, merchant boats, bich boats and shallow boats used to ply on these canals.
At that time there was an expansion of sea freight, commercial and water communication. West Patia and Karnaphuli were amazing in natural beauty. Recently, 14 canals are in danger of encroachment and pollution by land grabbers and influential people. Although the Water Development Board has started digging. Took a few projects. But the question has arisen in the mind of the people of Karnaphuli that other canals like Shikalbaha Charlakshya canal will be freed and activated?
According to various reports of revenue branch of Chittagong District Administrator’s Office, Upazila Land Office and organizations researching various rivers, Chittagong River and Canal Protection Movement, National River Protection Commission, Bela and Nongar, the number of canals in Karnaphuli is 13 in some places and 14 in some places.
The canals on paper are Charlakshya-Shikalbaha Canal, Charlakshya-Charfarid Canal, Leinga Canal, Mama Bhagina Canal, Charlakshya-Khwajnagar Canal and Charlakshya-Balurchar Canal flowing over Charlakshya Union. Karnaphuli River flows through the northern side of Shikalbaha Union. Also, Shikalbaha canal, Shikalbaha-Juldha canal are flowing over this union.
Karnaphuli river flows through the north-west side of Charpatharghata union. There are also Charpatharghata Canal, Charpatharghata-Khwajnagar Canal, Charpatharghata-Charlakshya Canal, Badamtal Canal. Karnaphuli river flows across the western and southern part of Juldha union. Besides, there are Juldha-Shikalbaha Canal and Juldha-Charlakshya Canal.
Karnaphuli River flows through the western side of Baruthan Union. Besides, Koyagram canal runs along the eastern side of this union. But the Tehsildar said that there is no canal in Baruthan.
Do these 14 canals exist now? Like the leaders of the movement to protect the canal, common people have the same question – where did the canal disappear? Who has occupied these canals? Why don’t sampans go by sea anymore? Bajra-Pansi-Dingi went where! Once reality is all history now. Because, the way Upazila Land Office and Union Land Assistant Officers (Tahsildar) are showing indifference in protecting the canal, the 14 canals of Karnaphuli will disappear soon.
Conscious people of Karnaphuli upazila claim that if the water development board digs or rescues the canals and takes the initiative to plant spring flowers and fruit trees on the two banks of the canals, then Karnaphuli can become a beautiful upazila. But the game of encroachment-pollution and eviction has been going on for many years. However, the canal is not saved.
This is what the people of Karnaphuli say.
The five union tehsildars are unable to say precisely who owns the 14 canals. Whether the waterlogging will be removed by rescuing the canal. Not only the canal, the condition of the canals around Karnaphuli is also more fragile due to encroachment and pollution. Mojjartek to the old Brijghat three and a half kilometers long CDA ditch is non-existent today. There is no sign of it now. Lost in encroachment.
This is the case with all canals. Many canals are now dead. Water does not come in tides. Most of those that exist are shrinking. Earlier the width of the canal was 50-60-70 feet. The connection of the river with the canal is now severed. The canal water no longer flows into the river. Flooding in Karnaphuli is increasing with the loss of canals.
Charlakshya Union Land Assistant Officer (Tehsildar) Sajjad Shah Amjad, Charpatharghata Union Union Land Assistant Officer Ujjwal Kanti Das and Shikalbaha Union Land Assistant Officer Jasim Uddin Bhuia said, ‘A few canals are visible in Swa Swa Union, the rest of the canals are not so visible.’
President of Karnaphuli River Sampan Majhi Kalyan Samiti Federation SM Payar Ali said, ‘The canals in Karnaphuli are encroached on different sides or cannot be connected to the river due to pollution. The master plan to recover them and bring back the navigability must be implemented. Then the flooding of the area will decrease. For a long time, I have been doing agitation and human chain to save this canal. I have also filed a case in the government office.
In this regard, Suman Shams, on behalf of the social organization of river safety, Nongar, said, ‘The canals of Karnaphuli need to be identified according to the CS-RS map. According to the law, canals, rivers and reservoirs are mainly looked after by the District Commissioner. How much cooperation and responsibility do they fulfill? It depends on the canal occupancy situation. Power is needed to rescue the canal. I hope Karnaphuli Upazila Parishad, Karnaphuli Upazila Administration has that power. City Corporation, Department of Environment, Local Government Department, Water Development Board, Road Transport and all concerned will be able to rescue the canal.
Ali ur Rahman, author researcher and General Secretary of Chittagong River and Canal Raksha Andolan said, ‘The Hon’ble High Court has specific instructions to rescue all the canals according to the design of the RS seat of the country. According to that verdict, the rescue work of Buriganga and Turag rivers is ongoing. But the judgment is applicable for the whole of Bangladesh. Karnaphuli Upazila was beautifully surrounded by small canals. There was never any flooding. The sampan cannot run due to various structures encroaching on those canals. Once upon a time, every day in these canals, sampan sailors could be heard and goods were transported. Our demand is that the district administration and upazila administration should rescue the canals by respecting the High Court’s verdict. If they do not recover then we will take legal action with proper information.’
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) of Chittagong District Commissioner Office. Abdul Malek said, ‘The district administration is very sincere about this. By looking at the design, all the canals will be saved consistently.
Source: dainikazadi.net
