Neglected Sluice Gate Floods 70 Homes, Farmland in Khagrachari
Photo: Agamir Somoy
A 1996 sluice gate on the Nunchhari stream now floods 60-70 homes and agricultural land instead of aiding irrigation in Mohalchari, Khagrachari.
Locals report that while the gate provided irrigation benefits for several years after its construction, a total lack of maintenance has rendered it effectively useless.
Debris such as dead trees, vines, and plastic waste floating down the stream frequently trap at the gate’s mouth. This obstruction blocks the water flow, causing the surrounding area to flood even during light rainfall.
Md Didar Alam, a resident of Maischari Bazar, said, “During recent heavy rains, trees floating down the stream got stuck in the sluice gate, stopping the water flow. This caused at least 60-70 houses, including mine, to go underwater.”
The flooding also submerged a section of the Khagrachari-Rangamati road. Didar noted that he eventually cleared the gate himself once the water pressure decreased.
This destroys rice seedbeds and planted crops, resulting in significant financial losses for the farming community every year.
A field visit found that residents and farmers identified a central wall between the sluice gate’s two doors as the primary bottleneck. They believe removing it would normalize water flow and largely resolve the waterlogging.
Maischari Union Parishad Chairman Sajai Marma told Agamir Somoy, “I have informed the administration about the sluice gate issue. I also raised the matter at a meeting held a few days ago in the presence of administration and army representatives.”
Sajai called for immediate action from the authorities to implement a permanent solution for the derelict sluice gate.
