Need for the re-excavation of Choto Jamuna River is raised in Fulbari upazila as this will help to irrigate thousands of acres of lands in the area during spring season. Since the river Jamuna has not been dug for decades, silt has accumulated the riverbed.
As water level drops drasticly during spring season, people in the area produce various crops in the char areas of the river. The river is now being used as a dead river as a result of not dredging for decades.
Authorities are working to increase water-holding capacity by dredging the country's rivers. But currently, there is no initiative to dig the Choto Jamuna River flowing over Phulbari upazila. During the monsoon season, hundreds of bighas of land become submerged as silt has decreased the depth of the river.
Farmers in the area said that by excavating the river and constructing a rubber dam on the Choto Jamuna River at Janipur in the lower reaches, it is possible to conserve water in this river all year round. And with this water, farmers will be able to cultivate hundreds of bighas of land. If a dam is built in the area, fishermen will be able to cultivate fish at the water reserve and their livelihood will be secured.
People in the upazila have already formed several human chains demanding construction of a rubber dam. They hope that authorities will pay attention in this issue and revive the almost dead Choto Jamuna River.
