Neglected Pachanala Canal Becomes a Mosquito Haven, Exposing Residents to Dengue Risk
Nazir Hossain Nazu, Syedpur (Nilphamari)
Factory waste has polluted the Pachanala canal in Syedpur, Nilphamari. The water flow has stopped, so mosquitoes breed in the dirty water and germs may spread. Farmers also say they are unsure how to irrigate about 500 hectares of farmland.
Reports say the Pachanala starts from Koya Beel in Botlagari union, north of Syedpur town. It then runs 22 kilometres south through the Syedpur municipal area and joins the Barati river in Badarganj, Rangpur. The canal should be 10 feet deep and 30 feet wide. In 1822, the landlord Pacha Sarkar dug it to end waterlogging in those areas.
The canal also supplies irrigation water to some farmland in the Syedpur municipal area. About 500 hectares in Botlagari, Kamarpukur and Bangalipur unions also depend on it. But the water is now too dirty to use.
Officials of the Water Development Board (Paubo) say the municipality dumps drain and sewage water into the Pachanala. They say waste from the BSCIC industrial city also flows into it. This pollutes the water and lets lakhs of mosquitoes hatch every day.
Our correspondent visited the Pachanala bridge area beside Syedpur Cantonment Public School and College. Garbage has piled up in the canal and blocked the flow. The water has turned black and smells bad. Students of the school and people nearby cannot bear the smell, and they fear dengue.
Two main drains run on both sides under the bridge at the BSCIC industrial city on the Rangpur Dinajpur road in Syedpur town. These drains end in the Pachanala, and waste from mills and factories falls into it. Under the Pachanala bridge on the upazila road, a large town drain keeps pouring dirty water into the canal.
Journalist Mr. Tofazzal Hossain Lutu said farmers used the Pachanala water to irrigate their land. He said the water has turned black from pollution, so farmers can no longer use it on their fields.
Students of Cant Public School and College said their school stands right beside the canal. They cannot play on the school field because of the smell. Mosquito bites make it hard to attend class. They fear the mosquitoes may carry dengue.
Mr. Dhiman Bhushan, Upazila Agriculture Officer, said the government is firm on fighting dengue. He said no one has taken any step to stop mosquito breeding in the Pachanala. He said it is urgent to make the water fit for irrigation and to stop mosquitoes from breeding.
Dr. Wasim Bari Joy, a child specialist at the Syedpur 100 Bed Hospital, spoke yesterday. He said mosquitoes and germs usually grow in still water. He said children and adults are sure to fall sick from the bites of these mosquitoes and from the germs.
Mr. Md. Akhinuzzaman, Executive Engineer of Syedpur Paubo, said the Pachanala water is too dirty to use. He said dirty water and waste from the municipal area and the BSCIC industrial city breed lakhs of mosquitoes every day. He said Paubo has written to the municipal authorities many times to stop dumping dirty water into the canal. He said the municipal authorities pay no attention.
Ms. Farah Fatiha Taklima, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Administrator of Syedpur Municipality, said she knows nothing about the matter. She said officials will look into it and take the needed steps.
