Based Panchagarh Correspondent: In the Mandalpara neighborhood of Tirnoihat union in Tentulia upazila of Panchagarh, an expensive bridge across a canal is being built. According to locals, it won’t be helpful.
As is well known, the Tirnoihat canal originates in the north and empties into the Ranchondi River in the south. Under the “Rural Road Construction of 15 Meters Length of Bridge of Disaster and Relief Ministry” project, which is scheduled to cost 43 lakh 44 thousand taka in fiscal year 2023-24, a bridge over a canal is being built during the previous Awami League government.
On going to the site last Saturday, it was seen that the road has been laid over the bridge. Preparations for cement pouring are underway. No notice board has been hung in the project area mentioning the estimated cost and project duration. An estimated 500 yards of unpaved road is connected to the main road in the eastern part of the bridge under construction over the canal. Crop fields are spread on the western part of the bridge. But instead of expanding the road in the western part of the bridge, the work of uprooting bamboo bushes and trees on both sides of the canal with a bulldozer has created extreme anger in the minds of the local people. The affected families have verbally objected to this matter and the upazila administration including the district administrator.
Jahangir Alam of Mandalpara village said that about 25 feet of tea trees have been uprooted in my tea garden. Similarly, the work of uprooting trees and bamboo bushes of 20-30 families is underway to connect the road. I have heard that the Water Development Board and the district administration will acquire the land. We have not received any notice yet. Now I am hearing that the watercourse (canal) is private land. But in the record of 1962, there was no private land or watercourse there. In such a situation, the project is being hushed up and eye-washed and the work of building a new unpaved road on both sides of the canal is being done. As a result of this road, the drainage system of the cultivated land will be blocked and the entire area will turn into a sinkhole. The bridge culvert and the road will not be of much use.
Akbar Ali of Mandalpara village said that if the land is acquired to the west of the bridge culvert and the road is not expanded, there will be no benefit. There is a 20-foot deep hole and crop fields on the western side of the bridge culvert. You will have to climb and descend stairs to move around this bridge culvert.
School student Riazul said that if the road is constructed, the movement of the local people to Farikapara High School, Dakhil Madrara, Government Primary School, Union Land Office and Tirnoihat Union Parishad will be smooth. However, it would be very good if it was extended to the west.
Tirnoihat UP Chairman No. 2 Md. Alamgir Hossain said that the government watercourse (Khal) Khas land was encroached for a long time. The land is being reclaimed and a public road is being made on both sides. The people of the area will be able to carry their field crops through this road. In addition, if the canal is renovated, a beautiful environment will be created, including a sanctuary for domestic fish farming.
Upazila Project Implementation Officer Md. Maidul Islam Shah said that ring drains will be installed at multiple places to drain water from the crop fields.
Upazila Executive Officer Md. Afroz Shahin Khasru said that since one-third of the work of the Kalbhat Bridge project has been completed, now arrangements will be made to use it for public transportation.
According to the locals, if the under-construction bridge was connected to the Fakirpara Rural Road by creating a new road about 1 kilometer in length to the west from Kalbhat, the locals of Dargasing, Hakimpur, Tirnoi, and Mandalpara would benefit.
