Atrai river water has started entering Chalanbil, there is fear of submergence of boro paddy
There is now a shadow of worry in the vast field of bills. Two consecutive days of rains and water from Atrai river coming down from upstream has started entering Chalanbil through five canals of Singhra upazila of Natore. If the water is not brought under control quickly, there is a fear that the boro paddy of about 26 thousand hectares of land will sink. Singra Upazila Agriculture Officer himself said about this apprehension. Local parliament members, upazila executive officers, agricultural officers and local farmers are working day and night to control water.
According to Singra Upazila Agriculture Officer's office, it has been raining continuously for two days since last Thursday night in Chalanbil area of Singra. In this relatively low-lying areas of paddy fields have already started to sink. But the biggest fear is the water of Atrai river. The water of this river coming down from upstream (northern India) has started entering Chalonbil through Jormallika, Sardanagar-Hulhulia, Katuabari, Rakhalgacha and Paur Shamshanghat canals in Singra.
With the help of the administration, the local farmers are trying to block the water by making mud dams at the mouths of these canals. However, if the water level of the river increases and the rain continues, there is a danger of these dams collapsing. In a short period of time, a large paddy field can be submerged in water.
Boro paddy has been cultivated on 36 thousand 610 hectares of land in Singra this year. Paddy harvesting has already started. According to the Agriculture Department, 30 percent of paddy has been harvested so far. The remaining 26,000 hectares of rice are still under cultivation. Another 15 to 20 days are needed to harvest these paddy.
Local people said that the water of the Atrai river started entering the Jormallika field from under the Jormallika bridge on Singra-Atrai road from last Friday night. On hearing the news, the farmers stayed up all night to make earthen embankments under the bridge with soil cutters. Due to the dam, the water level has started to rise further. 250 to 300 hectares of paddy land will be submerged if the water enters.
Atrai river water started entering the main part of Chalanbil through Saradanagar-Hulhulia canal from Thursday night. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Agriculture Officer rushed there yesterday after getting the news. With their financial support, the local people blocked the water flow with mud dams. However, there is a danger of the dam collapsing at any time, said local farmers.
Katuabari, North Damdama Jolarbata Sluicegate area is most at risk. As a part of the sluicegate is broken, water from Atrai river is entering the bill through it. Local people are trying to stop the water with sandbags. Apart from this, river water has started entering the bill through Rakhalgacha and Paur Shamshanghat canals.
Singra Upazila Agriculture Officer Khandkar Farid confirmed these risks and told Prothom Alo that two-thirds of the rice produced in the bill is yet to be harvested. In this situation, the advance rain water upstream and the local rain water of the last two days have become a cause for concern. Farmers are advised to harvest paddy quickly. But many are not using machines (harvester) to cut paddy. This reluctance among farmers is due to the relatively low price of mechanized rice. The field workers of the agriculture department are contacting the farmers with the mobile numbers of the harvester owners. It is expected that they will use the machine to cut paddy from Saturday. Besides, all kinds of administrative support is being given to make earthen dams.
