Amtali (Barguna) Correspondent

Influential people have occupied the culverts and drainages of Amtali Municipality and built houses and businesses. As a result, the city is experiencing severe waterlogging. The water accumulated in the houses is rotting and emitting a foul smell, and the environment is being polluted to an extreme extent by breeding mosquitoes and flies. The victims have demanded the immediate evacuation of the structures by occupying culverts and drainages to protect the half a million people in the city. It is reported that Amtali Municipality was established in 1998. Since its establishment, the drainage system of the municipality has been fragile. In 2000, a culvert was constructed at the Bandhghat intersection, a culvert at the municipality lake, and drainage in the Mitha Bazar area to drain the water of the municipality. These drain the water of the main city. By occupying those culverts and drainages, influential people have built hundreds of utility institutions and housing estates. Due to the construction of that facility, the culverts and drainages have become filled with garbage and debris. This prevents the city’s water from draining. As a result, most areas of the city remain waterlogged throughout the rainy season. Severe waterlogging causes mosquitoes and flies to breed in homes, and the environment becomes extremely polluted due to water loss. People have to live in the stench of rot. The victims have demanded legal action and eviction of the structures by quickly occupying culverts and drainages. Even in the last 25 years, culverts and drainage have not been freed from encroachment due to political influence. On the other hand, despite the unplanned drainages constructed by the municipal authorities over the past 27 years, water is not being drained. As a result, the drainage is clogged with garbage. On Sunday, the intersection culvert in Amtali Municipality was seen being occupied by hundreds of people, including Mamun, Jamal Payada, Monir Payada and Hasan Mridha, who had constructed structures. The mouth of the culvert is stuck to the pole of that structure. The mouth of the culvert has been blocked by the accumulation of dirt and garbage on that pole. Water is not being drained through the culvert. On the other hand, although the mouth of the Mithabazar drainage is functional, businessman Sohel Mia has built a pakka bhaban by blocking the back part. The culvert in the municipality lake is high, so not much water is flowing through it. Due to the lack of drainage, Sabujbagh, College Road, Mithabazar, Wabda, Ferry Ghat Road, Fish Market area and Khontakata are extremely waterlogged. The water is rotting and spreading a foul smell. Jasim, Selim, Siddique and Moyna, residents of Mithabazar area, said that businessman Sohel Mia has occupied the drainage and constructed a concrete building. As a result, waterlogging has occurred as the water does not drain through the drainage.

Dilip Majhi, Lalu Majhi and Gopal Majhi, residents of Sabujbagh area, said that 15 families are living in water due to lack of drainage. They also said that the water is rotting and smelling bad, and the environment is becoming extremely polluted due to the breeding of mosquitoes and flies. Shah Alam, Iskandar, Ashraf, Jasim Mridha and Asim Mridha, residents of the same area, said, “More than fifty families are in a state of waterlogging. There has been extreme waterlogging as the water is not drained through culverts. It is very difficult to live in the area due to the rotten smell of the water.” They also said, “We have informed the municipality authorities but they are not taking any action.” Idris Ali, Sohel Mallick, Yusuf Ali and Rezaul Karim, residents of Khontakata area, said that due to the lack of drainage system, 40 families are stuck in water. They cannot get out of their houses. Then the water rots and the stench spreads. It is difficult to live in the house. They demanded that the water be drained quickly. Businessman Sohel Mia said, “We did not build a concrete building on the drainage. However, we built a kitchen on poles on the drainage.” Amtali Municipality Administrative Officer Md. Mamunur Rashid said that people will be sent to clean the culverts and drains and make the drainage system operational. Amtali Upazila Executive Officer and Municipal Administrator Md. Rokonuzzaman Khan said that arrangements will be made to quickly free the culverts and drainages and drain the water.