During the monsoon season, the country's largest challan beel fields and roads are submerged in water. All small and large drains, canals and rivers are usually seen flowing with the water. The entire beel is full of water. All Bahari boats sail and sometimes run their engines to various parts of the Chalan Beel area.
However, this time there is no water even in the season of monsoon. This has an impact on the livelihood of the people who depend on this bill flowing through the three districts. They are now changing their profession and looking for work elsewhere.
According to river and climate experts, even two decades ago, the Toitambur was in the water during Chalanbil in Asadha month. Now the whole bill is waterless. This bill is being victimized by the brutality of climate change. At one time Chalanbil was full of rice and fish. Villages like the hundreds of islands built around the bill attracted tourists.
Most of the villagers earned their living by fishing. During the rainy season, thousands of travel-thirsty people from far and wide would rush to have a close look at Chalanbil. They used to enjoy the scenic beauty of Chalanbil through boat trips. Basically, tourists came from different parts of the country to enjoy the pure natural weather, swinging in the water, various types of domestic and foreign birds, the taste of local fish, entertainment and to get rid of the monotony of the city. Along with that the local people also earned two paisa income. At present, due to the lack of running water, the biodiversity and fish resources of the lake are about to disappear. Agricultural crops are disrupted.
Tarash Upazila Fisheries Officer Mashgul Azad said that even in the season full of effects of climate change, the running water has become zero. But the fishermen are changing their profession but the government has not given them any benefits. Because in all areas where hilsa is available, the government provides various support to fishermen in those areas.
It is known that the 6 districts of Rajshahi division had an area of 1 thousand 88 square kilometers. At present, Pabna, Natore and Sirajganj districts of 10 upazilas, 62 unions have 1 thousand 600 villages. The bill includes 21 rivers, 71 canals and 93 small bills.
According to the information of Pabna, Natore and Sirajganj District Fisheries Office, the production of fish in Chalanbil was 18 thousand 700 metric tons in 1992, 15 thousand 421 metric tons in 1997, 12 thousand 460 metric tons in 2002 and 12 thousand 117 metric tons in 2006. According to this, fish production has decreased by 72.5 percent in 24 years. Average production fell by 12.1 percent. Production has decreased by 3 percent every year.
Former M Atiqul Islam Bulbul, assistant professor of Tarash Degree College, said that in the past, Chalanbil used to be full of water during the monsoon season. Crops were cultivated on high ground, fishing was carried on in rivers and canals. Due to adverse effects of nature and unplanned filling of reservoirs, canals, Naynjuli, this bill is now waterless. During the current monsoon season, the reservoirs of Chalanbil are drowning due to lack of water. There is no rainfall. So the fish are not seen.
He also said that the people of Chalanbil region work in the agricultural land during the dry season and earn their livelihood by fishing and boating during the monsoon. But this time they are disappointed because the water did not come in the bill during monsoon. Because the people of Bill region have to meet all the expenses of the family including the education of their children by selling fish.
