<i>Task becomes easy when govt, people join hands</i>

11 November 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Satkhira

A dying Marichap River, flowing through Satkhira district, will now be saved, thanks to the initiative of local administration and spontaneous participation of local people. On Sunday, a large number of villagers, irrespective of social status, began work with spades and baskets to re-excavate the river along its 24 kilometre stretch in Debhata, Sadar and Assassuni upazilas, which will enable the river to join Ichamati River and get enough flow. Health and Family Planning Minister Dr AFM Ruhul Haque inaugurated the re-excavation at a simple ceremony at Char Balitha in Debhata upazila. "The initiative will help to develop agriculture and trade in the area and contribute to improving the local environment. The Marichap River, lifeline for lakhs of people in the district, should not be allowed to die to serve the interests of a few people,” he said. As Marichap River's capacity to hold water drastically reduced due to massive siltation, flooding during the rainy season and lack of flow during the dry season became a yearly affair. Silt gathers in the riverbed when nearby areas are stripped of vegetation, making the soil vulnerable to erosion by wind and water. Satkhira Deputy Commissioner Abdus Samad, Sadar upazila Chairman Nazrul Islam, former Awami League lawmakers Monsur Ahmed and Dr Mokhlesur Rahman, Debhata upazila Chairman Golam Mostafa, Assassuni upazila Chairman ABM Mustakim and Satkhira Press Club President Abu Ahmed attended the ceremony, among others. The re-excavation of Marichap River in three upazilas will complete by January 2010.