Pathraj Dam has become a recreation centre in Boda upazila of Panchagarh district as people from nearby areas are visiting the spot every day to enjoy their leisure time.
Even a month ago, the dam had nominal water flow. During the full monsoon season, the continuous rains of the last few days have filled up about 10-km of the canal with water tides and it now looks very beautiful.
A group of children jumped into the water with joy at the sluice gate spillway while some curious tourists were watching it. Many people come to visit the embankment with motorcycles in the cloudy afternoon. On both sides of the canal, several couples are engrossed in the happy atmosphere of the chirping of birds under the shade of thousands of trees.
Looking at the actual situation, it seems that the Pathraj Dam project has turned into a mini Cox's Bazar.
Teacher Ataur-Selina couple came to the dam from Ghatia neighbourhood near the railway station of Panchagarh district headquarters. They said they heard about this dam last monsoon season and came to visit now. It seems strange as they never thought that Panchagarh district could have such a beautiful environment, they said.
Rows of different species of trees surround the canal. Looking down from the road above the sluice gate, it looks like a waterfall. The water through the gap falls down the spillway. This is a charming scene. It would be great if such a scene could be seen throughout the year, they said.
Sources in Panchagarh Water Development Board said Pathraj Dam project was implemented in Haripur Mauza under Maidandighi Union of Boda Upazila in 1955. The project was developed by EP Wapda to provide supplemental irrigation to combat drought during the Aman season. The water from this project was used to irrigate the land of Haripur, Langalgram and nearby Jholai Shalshiri villages in Maidandighi area. Irrigation was disrupted when the project was damaged in the 1985 floods. Later, the people of the area were deprived of irrigation facilities from the project for a long time due to lack of water in Pathraj river and non-regular repair work.
In view of the demand of the people in the area, Bangladesh Water Development Board took the initiative to reopen Pathraj Dam. The spillway of the barrage has been repaired with geotex bags. Last Rabi season, paddy was cultivated on 500 acres of land using this water. An additional 900 metric tons of paddy was produced on it. The market value of which is about Tk 3 crore. About 20,000 different species of fruit and forest tree saplings have been planted on both sides of the 9.12-km canal of the dam. A pond, developed on 15 acres of land in the project area, has created opportunities for fish farming and duck rearing.
Besides the lead agency Water Development Board, the Department of Agriculture Extension, the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Livestock and Forest Department are working to improve the quality of life of common people in the project area. Along with irrigation, tourism centre has been developed around the project. The scenic beauty of the barrage, the lush greenery and the ancient course of the river attract tourists and travel-hungry people throughout the year.
Thakurgaon Water Development Board Deputy Chief Extension Officer Rafiul Bari said after 24 years of closure, the Water Development Board has started providing irrigation facilities by repairing some parts of the dam and irrigation canal system. Various species of trees have been planted in an area of about 10-km on both sides of the irrigation canal. Especially when the monsoon season comes, the appearance of the project area changes. People come here from far and wide to see the beauty of the place. If the entire dam is restored and operational, there will be a lot of tourists here throughout the year.
Ashutosh Burman, executive engineer of Panchagarh Water Development Board, said after being closed for a long time, the project area has been beautified along with the irrigation works by temporary renovation work. In the meantime, people of the area have started getting irrigation facilities. Initiatives have been taken to start the project activities in full swing by completely renovating the 9.12 km irrigation canal of the project.
