Shahid Joy, Jashore Correspondent
The Kopotakkho river bears the spirit of the ancient civilization and is ingrained in the long history and culture of Jashore.
Recent excavation program of the river has put hope into the lives of millions of people in the town. But, it actually raised eyebrows to some illegal occupiers. As a result of dredging of Kopotakkho river, hundreds of families will be freed from the curse of waterlogging in monsoon season.
Every year due to waterlogging, many families on the shores of Kopotaksh were displaced and had to live an extremely inhuman life. Thousands of farming, fisheries and professional families on both sides of the Kopotakkho are going to get rid of that situation. The fishermen of the long riverside blocks are overjoyed at the news of the dredging of the river. People from different walks of life in the river basin have also opened the door to new possibilities.
According to the afflicted locals, the pearl of Jashore’s heritage has been losing its navigability since the 70’s. Water logging started in the 90’s. In the meantime, no previous government has taken the initiative to dredge the river. To get rid of this situation, the present government has taken up a realistic and sustainable project in dredging the Kopotakkho river. Work on the second phase of the project has already started.
However, land grabbers and polluters are worried about the river dredging project. Along the banks of this long river, a class of occupying land pirates have been constructing fishponds, ponds and reservoirs as well as using it as agricultural land. Occupying the place of the river, many have built multi-storied buildings, super markets and various illegal settlements. These land pirates swallowed the place of the river and almost destroyed the place of the dove. As a result of river dredging, these land pirates are now worried.
It is learned that Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB) is implementing the second phase of the excavation project of Kopotakkho river. The name of the project is River Waterlogging Removal (Phase II). River excavation has started from Fultala of Magura Union on the other side and Dostina-Jamalpur area of Shimulia Union on the other side of the upazila. MANCMN (JV) 5 km of Jessore Garikhana Road contracted by the contracting company at a cost of Taka 4 crore 45 lakh 69 thousand. The length would be on an average 5 kilometer, width (top to top) 45.55 m and excavation depth (floor) 35.00 m. Its average depth is about 1.40 m.
Meanwhile, the concerned contractor has been instructed to start the work from August 1, 2021, but it has been started too late. As a result, it is difficult to say at this time how far this work will go in the coming monsoon season.
Locals claim that the 200 meter wide river is being dug not following the contract terms. Going to the site of excavation of Kopotakkho on the spot, it is seen that excavation work of the river is going on with 8/10 excavators. However, the muddy soil at the bottom of the river has been raised on both sides but is not being leveled. As a result, the locals are fearing that the soil may collapse again due to heavy rains.
In this regard, Jessore-2 (Chougachha-Jhikargachha) Member of Parliament Major General (Retd.) Dr. Md. Nasir Uddin has warned the people concerned that no irregularities will be tolerated in the excavation of Kopotakkho river.