Dredge dying Betna, free it from encroachers

Seminar at Satkhira urges govt

29 December 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Satkhira.

Photo: STAR

Speakers at a seminar here yesterday called for dredging of the silted up Betna River and necessary steps to protect it from pollution and encroachment. The river, once the lifeline of the district, has now become a stream due to siltation and encroachment, they said. They urged the government to dredge the riverbed so that the river, flowing through Sharsha upazila of Jessore and Kalaroa, Assassuni and Sadar upazilas of Satkhira, can get back its normal flow. Encroachment on the Betna and its pollution are also causing environmental hazards for over five lakh people of the two districts, the speaker said. Besides, water overflowing the banks of the silted Betna is creating water logging in some areas of four upazilas of Satkhira and Jessore, the speaker added. The Betna is now almost dead due to lack of initiatives for its dredging and protection from the grabbers, the speakers said, urging the socio-political organisations to raise their voice against the encroachers and polluters. Jointly organised by Central Water Committee and Uttaran, a local NGO, the seminar on “The River Betna and water-logging problem” was held at Abdur Rahman College auditorium in Sadar upazila with Principal Shafiqul Islam in the chair. It was addressed, among others, by Satkhira district Awami League General Secretary and Sadar Upazila Chairman Nazrul Islam, Kalaroa Upazila Vice-Chairman Monowara Faruque and Tala Upazila Vice-Chairman Mostari Sultana.