Indiscriminate use of current nets, fishing traps by local influential people, may hamper cultivation of Aman paddy at Dakop upazila in Khulna district this year.
Sources said the farmers of 106 villages in the upazila are passing their days in tension as they cannot prepare their lands for cultivation due water logging and silt caused by the traps and nets.
The normal flow of water has been hampered for using current nets, locally called tona net and fishing traps made by bamboo, locally called net-pata.
Though the farmers have made their seedbeds of the paddy and other crops, meanwhile, they think their hope of growing better crops may be hampered this year.
The farmers said navigability of the rivers had declined and tunnels and canals in the area had been silted.
Taposh Kumar Roy, general secretary of Bajua Chara Canal Sluice Gate Committee, said the croplands of three union in this area get water through the canal. But, this year, there is no water in the land as a section of local influential people have made a barrier by using fishing traps on the way to flow water.
“Recently we have submitted a memorandum to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer. But, he could not take proper steps as the groups have a strong hold with ruling party,” he said.
Gouranga Prasad, resident of Kailashganj area, said: “The local influential people of the area have set up fishing traps in Madontola canal hampering the flow of water.”
More over 6,000 acres of croplands might be damaged this year in the area for these traps.
Recently, hundreds of farmers went to the UNO and submitted a memorandum with the requirement MP Panchanon Biswas, for remove the traps. But the UNO did not take any steps in this regard.
Population of fish also had been decreased rapidly in the area due to use of net and traps, he said.
Ripon Kanti Ghosh, upazila fisheries officer, said:“We have conducted dirves in the Bhara River and announced through hand mikes to remove the fishing traps and nets.”
Contacted UNO Mrinal Kanti Das said: “Meanwhile, more than 6.000 net-pata and 5,00 nets have been damaged and our drive is going on.”
MP Panchanon Biswas said:“The people of the area have informed me of the incident and I have also gathered information from govt officials over phone.”
“Steps should be taken immediately for save cultivation by removing the net and fishing traps set up in the river and canals,” he said.
