Photo: BSS

NATORE, July 22, 2026 (BSS) - Nearly Taka 22 lakh in unspent funds from the excavation of seven canals in the district has been returned to the state treasury after the successful completion of the projects.

The canal excavation programme, implemented by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, covered 11.65 kilometres of canals across four upazilas.

According to the office of the District Relief and Rehabilitation officer, the Khalishadanga Canal in Lalpur upazila, measuring three kilometres, was allocated Taka 1,28,78,000, while the actual expenditure stood at Taka 1,28,53,000, leaving a surplus of about Taka 25,000.

Another project in Lalpur, the 2.5-kilometre Chandana Canal, had an allocation of Taka 1,03,03,000 . The excavation was completed at a cost of Taka 1,02,95,000, resulting in savings of around Taka 8,000.

In Bagatipara upazila, excavation of a 1.05-kilometre canal from Dumrai to the Baral River was completed at a cost of Taka 26,81,000 against an allocation of Taka 27,07000, generating savings of approximately Taka 27,000.

Similarly, excavation of the 1.35-kilometre canal from Pukurpar to the Baral River cost Taka 32,04,000 compared with the allocated Taka 32,22,000 million, leaving about Taka 19,000 unspent.

In Gurudaspur upazila, excavation of the 1.35-kilometre canal from Shidhuli Canal to Airmari Bridge was completed at a cost of Tala 51,26,000 million against an allocation of Taka 51,53,000, saving Taka 27,000.

In Natore Sadar upazila, excavation of the 750-metre Bhaturia Canal cost Taka 25,62,000 against an allocation of Taka 25,79,000, leaving a surplus of around Taka 14,000.

The largest savings, however, came from the two-kilometre Helencha Canal in Natore Sadar. Although Taka 77,28,000 had been allocated for the project, the actual expenditure was Taka 56,82,000, resulting in savings of approximately Taka 20,46,000.

Chairperson of the Bhaturia Canal Project Implementation Committee and Administrator of Halsa Union Parishad Monjira Parveen said the five-member committee—including the Upazila Agriculture Officer, Upazila Engineer, Assistant Engineer of the Department of Public Health Engineering, and the Upazila Project Implementation Officer—closely monitored the excavation work to ensure quality standards.

Local farmer Abdul Majid said the increased depth of the Bhaturia Canal would help retain sufficient water, enabling farmers to use it for irrigation and improve agricultural production.

Upazila Project Implementation Officer Md. Saidur Rahman said the excavation work was carried out mainly using excavators, while labourers were engaged in embankment protection, tree plantation and other ancillary works.

District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer A.K.M. Shaha Alam Molla said the department had completed the excavation work within a short time and at lower cost than many other agencies while maintaining high quality standards.

He attributed the savings to close supervision and coordinated efforts at every stage of implementation.

Out of the total allocation of Taka  4,45,74,000 million for the seven canal projects, the actual expenditure amounted to Taka  4,24,09,000, leaving Taka 21,65,000 in surplus, which has been returned to the state treasury