Chalanbeel is the largest beel in the northern part of the country. This beel extends over several districts in the north. A large part of it is located in Singra, Natore. The main feature of this beel is that its water is always flowing. That is why this vast reservoir is named Chalanbil.
This largest beel in the country is home to about 34 species of reptiles and 27 species of mammals of 12 families. On the other hand, about two lakh tons of food grains and at least 20 thousand tons of fish are supplied from this Chalanbil every year.
But in recent years, the beel has had to pay the price of unplanned development projects. Because the natural water flow is
being obstructed in the beel. As a result, on the one hand, the biodiversity of Chalanbil is under threat, and on the other hand, agricultural work is being disrupted due to waterlogging and swampy areas.
Recently, four major institutions like Hi-Tech Park, Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center, Technical Training Center (TTC) and Technical School and College (TSC) are being built on this beel in Sherkol area of Chalanbil. Along with this, there are also plans to build a mini stadium in Chalanbil. Such development activities without adequate water drainage facilities have now become a thorn in the side of the farmers of this area.
As a result, about 2,000 bighas of land in about 20 villages including Chakpur, Teligram, Sidhakali, Bamunhat, Raninagar, Bamnuhat, Boktarpur, Goalbatan, Bilbharat and Bhangarkandi in Sherkol Chalanbil have become waterlogged. If a large area of cropland is waterlogged for a long time, problems arise in cultivation.
Due to waterlogging, an additional cost of 5-7 thousand taka per bigha is being spent to clear moss and weeds from the land. As a result, the cost of production is increasing for farmers.
It is known that during the previous government, Junaid Ahmed Palak used political influence to move development projects outside the district town to Chalanbil in Singra upazila. Where the land of Palak’s relatives in the project area was also acquired at a high price. Along with this, the contractors gave Palak’s leaders and activists the opportunity to fill the sand for the project work in Chalanbil.
Munsur Ali, a farmer from Sherkol area, told Daily Industry that even a few years ago, algae and moss did not accumulate in the bel. They used to flow into the river through a ten-mile bridge. But now the water can’t flow out like that because the ICT building and a few bridges built there are blocked. As a result, moss and other garbage remain in our bel. It costs Tk 5-7 thousand per bigha every year to clean them from the land. Due to which we farmers are affected.
In addition to the loss of Chalanbeel, crores of taka of the government have been wasted for unplanned development. Separate bridges have been built for 4 institutions located between Natore-Bogra highway and Chalanbil. The common people think that additional costs could have been saved by making one bridge through integrated planning.
Zahid Hasan, a student of the Technical Training Center, told Daily Industry, separate bridges have been built here for 4 institutions. Again, there is not enough space for water drainage under the bridge leading to the Technical Training Center. Where a bridge could have been built through proper planning, an additional bridge has been built for looting by wasting the country’s money unnecessarily.
Expressing concern in this regard, Executive Engineer of the Natore Roads and Highways Department, Md. Kamrul Islam told Daily Industry, that the bridge we have built between Natore-Bogra highway has enough space for water flow. However, we think that the water of Chalanbeel will be obstructed for various development projects including the high-tech park adjacent to the road. We have requested each institution to keep space for water flow. If the water flow system is not maintained, there may be floods and other socio-economic problems in this area. Which may cause damage to the Natore-Bogra highway and biodiversity in general in the future.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md. Masudur Rahman told Daily Industry that measures will be taken after on-site inspection to ensure that there is no problem with water flow and biodiversity due to the development activities of Chalanbeel.
