/ Yet another dam choking a river to death

The Kumlai river, a vital 20-kilometre tributary of the Teesta flowing through Nilphamari’s Dimla upazila, is on the brink of disappearing.
A dam constructed by the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) near the river’s origin has severely disrupted its natural flow, causing flooding during the monsoon season and leaving the riverbed dry in the remaining months.
This dam, allegedly built in collusion with land grabbers, has not only choked Kumlai’s waters, but also diverted its flow through two newly dug canals toward the Dhum and Nautara rivers.
Alomgir Kobir, a local social worker, said, “BWDB constructed an earthen dam at Motir Bazar point to obstruct the river’s downstream flow and divert it to Nautara river through the canal. It was a suicidal decision.”
Saifur Rahman, 65, a resident of Gayabari village in the upazila, echoed him.
At present, a 10km stretch of the river’s downstream from Motir Bazar to Sotokhata Chowpothi area has dried up, paving way for encroachment.
Contacted, Akash Dutta, sub-divisional engineer of BWDB in Dalia upazila, said “It is a recommended procedure to divert river’s flow by digging canals to save people from flood or erosion.”
He, however, could not give satisfactory response when asked why they constructed a dam instead of a regulator or sluice gate on Kumlai river.
Kumlai is listed as a vital river by the National Rivers Protection Commission and BWDB.
Visiting the river bank areas recently, this correspondent observed that numerous shops and businesses, a government women’s market, schools, and diagnostic centres have been constructed there.
Hazi Abdus Sabur, owner of a business constructed on the river’s land in Khalisha Chapani village, claimed he had documents of the land’s ownership.
Many occupants claimed that the Deputy Commissioner’s Office issued them registered document for land ownership and they pay revenue to the land office in the union regularly.
Contacted, DC Mohammad Nairuzzaman said, “No registered document against the river’s land has been issued by our office. We’re working to recover Kumlai river from grabbers, and a list of 273 occupants has been prepared for eviction.”
Locals and environmentalists under the banner of “Riverine People”, an organisation working to save rivers, have initiated a movement demanding necessary steps to rejuvenate the river.
“BWDB killed Kumlai river at its origin by constructing the dam and diverting its flow through the canals. We have placed 10-point demand to save the country’s rivers. We urge the locals to unite for saving Kumlai,” said Tuhin Wadud, director of Riverine People, and also a professor of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur.
Mahbubur Rahman, chief engineer (Northern Zone) of BWDB in Rangpur, said, “We’re working closely with relevant departments to recover the river. We’ve also sent a proposal for excavating it.”