Padma and Boral river connecting sluice gate at Charghat upazila in Rajshahi. - Obaydul Islam Robi
Farmers, fishermen and local people demanded the Padma-Boral joining sluice gate permanently opened to protect navigability in the area. The Boral is a connecting river with Padma. It joined the Jumuna river as well through the Charaghat upazila of Rajshahi, Natore, Pabna, Vangura and Faridpur district.
The Charghat Sluice gate was established on 1985 District of Rajshahi. The Boral River has the required navigability only because of the sluice gate. But the water is reducing in the Boral River. It was estimated that the water level was 21 thousand cusec before but it is only 5 thousand cusec. Now the local farmers have been facing problems in cultivation in dry season. Fishermen also cannot do their fishing activities all the year. That's why the local people requested the authority to open the sluice gate permanently.
High Court ordered four years ago to keep the sluice gate open permanently, but Water Development Board didn't follow the order. Executive Engineer of Rajshahi Water Development Board Mokhlesur Rahman told The Asian Age in this regard that they are in the process. They will take the necessary steps soon. In the meantime, the government has given an allocation for digging Boral River to bring back its lost navigability.
Charghat Upazila AL Secretary Fakrul Islam, AL Joint Secretary Shahaz Uddin and Assistant Professor SA Mozzamal Haque said, allotted money has been misused by the contractor instead of digging the river. However the Water Development Board has taken project for digging Boral River to bring back the navigability and to continue water flow accordingly. Charghat Upazila UNO Nazmul Haque said to The Asian Age, the authority will begin Boral River digging as soon as possible.
---Obaydul Islam Robi, Rajshahi
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