The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Satkhira

Leaders of the "Kendriyo Pani and Bhumi (Central Land and Water) Committee" at a press conference here Tuesday demanded the candidates who are contesting in all the four parliamentary constituencies of the district in the December 29 election to take measures to solve the water logging problems and distribution of khas lands among the landless in the district.

They also demanded commitments for ensuring safe drinking water in the coastal areas if they are elected. The press conference was organised on "Citizens' expectation to the candidates of the Awami League-led Mohajote and BNP-led four-party alliance for distribution of khas lands among the landless, ensuring safe drinking water to the coastal people, solving the water logging problems through re-excavation of silted rivers including the Kabodak".

The press conference was organised by the Central Water and land Committee with the help of NGO Uttaran, to solve the problems, held at Satkhira Press Club auditorium.

The Central Pani Committee leader Sheikh Mahidul Haque read out the written statement at the press conference. He said, due to massive deposition of silt and resultant loss of depths, the rivers Kabodak, Marichchap and Betna lost their capacity to hold water properly in rainy season and also creating water logging in vast areas in Tala, Kalaroa, Assassuni and Sadar Upazilas in the district every year.

There is no other alternative to dredge the rivers to solve the water logging problems facing lakhs of people in the district, he said.

The people in the coastal areas have been facing acute crisis of safe water over the years due to salinity in surface water and high rate of arsenic contamination of ground water. He stated that there are 69,971 acres of khas lands in the district but most of the lands are occupied by influential land grabbers for lack of proper measures.

He said, earlier the Central Pani Committee and Land Committee submitted memorandum to contesting candidates to take measures to solve their 19-point demand. The demand includes solving the acute water crisis ensuring safe drinking water in coastal areas, water logging problem by dredging the rivers, to increase navigability and to dig the dried rivers for flow of water, to recover the khas land and prepare the list of the landless and distribute among them, to resist the expansion of salinity in the region.

Among others Central Pani Committee president Principal Safiqul Islam, Abu Ahmed, Advocate Abul Kalam Azad,and Maniruzzaman Jamaddar were present there.

The Central Pani Committee and the Land Committee were formed by the people in the region.