Rubber dam on Someswari river can change the fortunes of 5 thousand farmers
September 16, 20243 Mins Read
RM Salim Shahi: A rubber dam on Someshwari River at Tawakocha in Jhenaigati Upazila of Sherpur can change the fortunes of 5,000 farmers.

Farmers have been demanding construction of a rubber dam on this river for a long time. But it has not been implemented yet. As a result, hundreds of farmers suffer from irrigation shortages during the dry season every year. According to the Directorate of Agricultural Extension, the demand for the construction of a rubber dam on the river has been raised by the farmers.

At times assurances are also available, from public representatives. But even today it has not been implemented. As a result
, the farmers of 15 villages including Tawakucha, Gurucharandudhanai, Panbar, Jukakura, Ainapur, Nadaliya, Karagaon, Bagervita, Dariyarpar, Kanduli, Jarakura, Kalinagar, Dhali, Gajarmari of Jhenaigati upazila have to face irrigation crisis every year .

It should be noted that the source of the Someswari river is in India. The river enters Jhenaigati upazila through Kharamura and Balijuri of Srivardi upazila.

Although the entrance of this river is in Srivardi, the entire river is spread in Jhenaigati upazila. According to the sources of the Department of Agriculture Extension, about 5 thousand farmers of Jhenaigati upazila cultivate boro on 2 thousand hectares of land using the water of this river for irrigation purposes.

600 acres of land is cultivated in Srivardi upazila. It is known that to cultivate boro on 600 acres of land in Srivardi upazila, the course of the river is blocked by constructing a dam in Balijuri upstream of Someswari river every year during the dry season.

As a result, hundreds of farmers in 15 villages of Jhenaigati Upazila of Bhati region faced irrigation crisis. Farmers including Chairman of Dhanshail Union Parishad of Jhenaigati Upazila Shafiqul Islam said that Boro Abad is the only source of livelihood for hundreds of farmers in 15 villages of Jhenaigati Upazila.

Because hundreds of acres of arable land in the Bhati area were submerged in water due to the mountain runoff that came down to this river during the monsoon season. As a result, farmers cannot cultivate Aman in these lands. So their only hope is boro plantation. Local farmers in Balijuri upstream of Someswari river every year by building a dam in the river and stopping the flow of the river and planting boro in this water of the river in Srivardi upazila.

About 5 thousand farmers of Jhenaigati faced irrigation crisis. Boro crops of farmers in Bhati region were disrupted. The dam which is constructed on the Someshwari river in Balijuri. 2 thousand farmers cultivate boro in the water of that dam. And while meeting the irrigation needs of those 2,000 farmers, the irrigation crisis of 5,000 farmers in Bhati region was created. Boro cultivation in Bhati region is disrupted.

It is like a straw base on the dying farmers of Bhati region. Agriculture Extension Department and farmers said that if a rubber dam is constructed in Tawakucha upstream of Someswari river, the irrigation crisis of the farmers of the two districts will be solved.

Besides, the farmers of the two upazilas will be able to cultivate boro more by using water from the rubber dam for irrigation at low cost. Masud Rana, Chairman of Ranishimul Union Parishad of Srivardi Upazila and Zahurul Haque, Chairman of Kansha Union Parishad of Jhenaigati Upazila, said that the demand of construction of a rubber dam on Someshwari river is long standing by the farmers of the area.

Assurances have also been received at various times. But it has not been implemented yet. Jhenaigati upazila agriculture officer Humayun Kabir said that if the rubber dam is constructed on the Someshwari river, the irrigation crisis of the farmers of the two upazilas will be solved. Farmers will get cheap rubber dam water. It will also increase the scope of farming in an environment-friendly manner. There will be a revolution in agriculture.

Mostafizur Rahman, Executive Engineer of Sherpur, Local Government Engineering Department, LGED, said that in view of the demands of the farmers, a project for the construction of a rubber dam on Someswari river was prepared and sent to the concerned department in 2015. The rubber dam will be constructed when the allocation comes.