The paddy farmers in Jhenaidah and Jashore are deprived of adequate irrigation water facilities. They are incurring huge loss as the irrigation water supplying farmers as well as irrigation pump owners have been allegedly charging excessive money from the farmers for water.
The water suppliers have been charging excessive money both in summer and monsoon, while least irrigation water is consumed during the monsoon.
The UNOs said the irrigation water supply committees in respective villages fix the water supply charge by the presidents, general secretary and other members like common farmers and water supplying pump owners. The information was gathered when this correspondent had visited a number of irrigation fields in Kaliganj of Jhenaidah and Bagherpara of Jashore.
Abdul Gafur, Bazlur Rahman, Ariful Islam, Kamal Hossain, Liton, Golam Mostafa, Akter Hossain and a number of farmers at Kothorakandi in Bagherpara Upazila of Jashore said they have to pay either Tk 4,500 to 5,000 or one-fifth of the paddy produced on the plot in each season for irrigation water. The farmers receive four to five times supply of the irrigation water in the summer, while they receive two to three times in monsoon. But the water supplying irrigation pump owners claim the same charge in both the season. They said when any farmer denies to pay required charge for irrigation water supply, the water suppliers stop providing water for them.
Some of irrigation pump owners Selim Hossain and Hadiuzzaman of the village were reached at the venue. They had admitted that they were collecting Tk 4,500 to 5,000 for the irrigation on each Bigha of land for each 40 to 44 decimals of land in every season. They might reduce the charge at 70 percent if every farmer requests them.
Hossne Ara Tanni, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), also president of Upazila irrigation management committee at Bagherpara, said the irrigation water supply charge is settled in the local committees formed by both the common farmers and pump owners. President, general secretary and treasurer lead the committee. The Upazila authority or her committee does not have any domination on the farmers.
On the other hand, assistant engineer of BADC, also, member secretary of Upazila irrigation management committee at Bagherpara, Jakir Hossain, termed the information untrue. He said he was not aware about fixation of irrigation water supplying rate among the common farmers when the pumps were sanctioned by BADC.
