Local farmers have formed a human chain and blocked the road in Jaldhaka, Nilphamari, demanding that the Buritista River be dredged to ensure irrigation facilities. This demand was made during the blockade and human chain in the Kaliganj Bazar area of ​​Golna Union on the Domar, Dimla-Jaldhaka road on Monday (December 8) afternoon. Jahidul, Halimur, Sabbir Hossain, and others spoke on behalf of the farmers in the human chain. The speakers said that since the river has not been dredged, irrigation has to be done using electricity and fuel, which is also doubling the production cost. Irrigation can be done through irrigation canals at 200 taka per bigha, but since there is no water in the irrigation canals, they are spending 2500 to 3000 taka on irrigation. Demanding that the Buritista River be dredged as soon as possible, they said that their movement will continue until their demands are met. Local farmers said that they have been deprived of irrigation facilities for almost 20 years. Since the Buritista River has not been dredged, water supply to the irrigation canals is being disrupted. As a result, seven unions, including Kaliganj Mouza, Golna, Balagram, Mirganj, Kherkati, Dimla Sadar Union, Nautara and Pacharhat Mouzas, have experienced an irrigation crisis.

In this regard, Nilphamari Water Development Board Executive Engineer Md. Atiqur Rahman said, the Buritista reservoir excavation project has been pending for a long time. A vested interest group is obstructing this work to achieve their interests. If the project is implemented, 2.6 million metric tons of additional crops will be produced every year. And energy will be saved by Tk 15.5 crore. This will also protect the environment. Discussions are underway with the district administration on how to start the work. Meanwhile, due to the blockade of the Jaldhaka-Dimla road, traffic on that road was closed for about three hours.

It is worth noting that extreme complications and tension have arisen over the excavation of the Buri Teesta river in Dimla, Nilphamari. When the excavation equipment was taken to the side of the Buri Teesta barrage, the locals of Kuthirdanga in Dimla upazila staged a massive protest on Tuesday (December 2) afternoon. A large number of police, Ansar and army have been deployed to control the situation.

In continuation of this, on Friday evening, residents of the Buri Teesta area of ​​three upazilas – Domar, Dimla and Jaldhaka – took a stand against the mining activities and held a torch procession. Thousands of people, including children, women and the elderly, gathered in front of the Buri Teesta barrage area with torches in their hands.