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By Al Amin Khan Rabbi
Once a functioning canal, the Garai in Kushtia has now been reduced to little more than a drain in many places, threatening the city’s water drainage system, the environment and local biodiversity.
The canal, which has not been dredged for years, has become silted up at several points. Parts of its banks have also been encroached upon, with various structures built on the canal land. Waste and plastic have further obstructed water flow.
The Garai canal was excavated in 1949 to expand local waterways and help alleviate waterlogging in parts of Mirpur upazila. Although it was initially under the supervision of the Kushtia Water Development Board, the Kushtia Municipality took over its management in 2018 through a no-objection certificate from the Bangladesh Water Development Board.
The municipality subsequently undertook a project in 2018 to restore and beautify the canal at an estimated cost of Tk 238 million. The plan included dredging the canal, constructing walkways along both banks, planting trees and introducing fish and duck farming.
However, the project could not be implemented due to various complications.
People concerned with the canal said a lack of proper planning, negligence by contractors and problems in the implementation process prevented the project from progressing.
The Garai canal stretches about 8.5 kilometres from Kamalapur in Ward No. 1 of Kushtia Municipality through Mangalbariya Bazar, Udibari, Baradi, Mandirpara of Chaurhas, Chechua, Phulbaria, Jagati and the bypass area to Minapara.
A recent visit to different sections of the canal found plastic bags, polythene and other waste piled up along its banks. In some areas, the water had turned black and was emitting a foul smell. Accumulated garbage has also obstructed the flow of water.
Local resident Khairul Islam said the canal had become almost non-functional because people regularly dump waste into it.
“During the monsoon, many areas remain waterlogged because water cannot drain properly,” he said.
Another resident, Basu Deb, said several structures had been built by occupying parts of the canal.
“As the canal has not been dredged for a long time, water drainage becomes difficult during the rainy season, causing suffering for local residents,” he said.
Kushtia environmentalist Kabirul Islam said the canal needed to be freed from encroachment and pollution and dredged regularly.
“Otherwise, the city’s drainage system will face greater pressure and the adverse impact on the environment will increase,” he said.
Kushtia Water Development Board Executive Engineer Rashidur Rahman said the canal was important for water drainage.
“The responsibility for supervising the canal currently rests with the Kushtia Municipality, which is overseeing it. If the municipality needs any technical advice regarding the canal, the Water Development Board is ready to provide assistance,” he said.
He added that the board would also extend other necessary support to the municipality.
Kushtia Municipality Executive Officer Md Mehe
