Canal recovery drive urgently needed : 30,000 people trapped in water in Rupganj due to continuous rain
Rupganj (Narayanganj) Correspondent
Over the past few days, continuous rainfall has caused severe waterlogging in Rupganj Upazila of Narayanganj. Due to illegal occupation of government canals and lack of proper drainage systems, the situation has worsened.
A housing project named Purbachal Eastwood City has reportedly occupied and filled seven government canals with sand, paralyzing the water drainage system of seven villages. As a result, nearly 30,000 people have been trapped in water. This has disrupted students’ education and caused waterborne diseases in about fifty men and women.
After several national newspapers and electronic media outlets reported on the waterlogging, the matter came to the attention of the administration. On Thursday afternoon, the Department of Environment and the administration jointly conducted a raid at Purbachal Eastwood City. They found evidence of government canal occupation by the housing company and immediately freed several canals from encroachment.
Present during the drive were Masud Iqbal Mohammad Shamim, Director of the Dhaka Environmental Clearance Headquarters; AHM Rashed, Deputy Director of the Narayanganj Department of Environment; Assistant Commissioner (Land) Tasbir Hossain; and other administrative officials and staff.
Based on complaints from locals, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Tasbir Hossain stated that around 30,000 people live in Hatabo Tekpara, Kaladi, Nolpathor, Norabo, Koshab, Aitola, and Dulurdia villages under Kanchan Municipality and Bhulta and Golakanda Union. These villages once had about seven canals of various sizes for agricultural water drainage. Rainwater used to flow away through these canals. However, over the past few years, the Eastwood City housing project has filled and occupied these government canals.
As a result, rainwater gets trapped, causing waterlogging in the area. In particular, the canal from Handi Market to Dewri Beel, the narrow canal from Muksur Bari to Mogar Bari, the large Kaladi to Bhulta canal, the canal from Baroipara through Dulurdia to Nolpathor, the canal from Iqbalertek to Norabo, and the water drainage canal from Norabo to Nolpathor have reportedly been filled with sand and blocked.
In these areas, several paved roads have gone underwater. The stagnant water, polluted with garbage, has led to waterborne diseases among children, the elderly, and women. Locals have been suffering from this waterlogging problem for about five years. Hundreds of villagers have staged human chain protests against the illegal filling of government canals and unauthorized approval of houses by Eastwood City.
Following the media reports, local administration and the Department of Environment became active. On Thursday afternoon, they raided Purbachal Eastwood City and confirmed the canal filling. Several canals were immediately freed using excavators. The company has been given three months to free the remaining occupied canals.
It has also been reported that although the Eastwood Housing Company was approved for 148 acres of land, they have filled around 300 acres with sand. During the operation, some individuals, including a broker of the housing company named Abdul Hai, tried to obstruct the drive, but locals confronted and humiliated them.
Kamal Uddin, Managing Director of Eastwood Housing Project, said,
“I have been given three months, but I will excavate the government canals before the deadline. I will also conduct all activities following the regulations.”
Masud Iqbal Shamim, Director of Dhaka Environmental Clearance Headquarters, said,
during the drive at Eastwood Housing Company, we found proof of government canal filling. We began freeing several canals using excavators. The company has been given three months to excavate all the occupied canals.
