Silted canals in Charghat threaten farmland fertility, farmers urge urgent re-excavation. Photo : BSS

RAJSHAHI, March 7, 2026 (BSS) - The fertility of agricultural land is declining due to the lack of canal excavation in Charghat upazila of Rajshahi. 

For a long time, canals in the area have been filled with silt and soil. Several important canals in Sardah, Nimpora, Shalua, and Yusufpur unions have become clogged, causing waterlogging during the rainy season and irrigation shortages in the dry season. 

As a result, agricultural production is being negatively affected.
 
During a visit to various areas of the upazila on Friday, it was observed that, due to the lack of canal renovation, many of them are nearly filled. 

As a result, water from these canals cannot enter the crop fields, causing the soil to gradually lose its fertility.
 
Locals said that the Sardah-Baneshwar connecting canal, the canal adjacent to Nimpora Beel, and several branch canals in the Yusufpur area have narrowed over the years due to silt accumulation.

 In many places, the depth of the canals has decreased so much that water flow has almost stopped.

 Consequently, rainwater cannot drain quickly during the monsoon, leaving croplands and homesteads waterlogged for long periods.

 
Farmer Habil Uddin from Nimpora union said that in the past water used to drain easily through the canals, but now rainwater cannot flow out because the canals are filled up. 

Sometimes water remains in paddy fields for weeks, damaging the crops.
 
Farmer Rezaul Karim from Sardah union said they face difficulties irrigating fields during the dry season.

If the canals were functional, bringing water to the fields would be easier. Now they have to rely on deep tube wells, which increase production costs.

Another farmer, Tota Mia from the Yusufpur area, said that if the canals are re-excavated, several thousand bighas of land will come under irrigation coverage, which would greatly benefit farmers.
 
Sources at the upazila agriculture office said that re-excavation of the canals would increase irrigation facilities for farmland and significantly reduce waterlogging during the rainy season. This would have a positive impact on the cultivation of rice, wheat, maize, and various vegetables.
 
Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Rahatul Karim Mizan said that around 15 canals in the upazila have been identified through a survey. 

Of these, a proposal has already been sent to the concerned ministry for the re-excavation of two major canals.
    
Upazila Project Implementation Officer Farhad Latif said there are about 15 canals in the upazila that are gradually becoming blocked due to lack of maintenance. 

The current government has taken plans to re-excavate these canals, and the work will be carried out in phases.

 Canal excavation is one of the government's key development programs. Local residents believe that if these canals are re-excavated and restored, the lost fertility of the land will gradually return.