Initiatives taken to protect origin of Halda River

Nizam Uddin Lavlu, Ramgarh Correspondent :

Natural fish breeding areas declared as fisheries heritage. An initiative has been taken to declare the area as a protected area to protect the origin of the traditional Haldani hilly area of Ramgarh.
A protected area will be officially declared after receiving approval from the highest level of government. Besides, various plans are being taken to protect the source, said the official. This information was given by Muhammad Mizanur Rahman, Project Director of Haldandi Natural Fish Breeding Area Development and Management Project (2nd Phase) in a motivational program related to the protection of the source of Haldandi held in Ramgarh on Saturday.
Halda river originates from Hasukpara Hill in a remote area called Chhota Belchari of Patachhara Union of Ramgarh Upazila of Khagrachari District and joins the Karnaphuli River through Manikchari, Fatikchari, Raujan and Hathajari Upazilas. On December 21, 2020, the Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Resources declared the Halda River as Fisheries Heritage. Almost four years after the declaration of fisheries heritage, efforts are being made to protect or develop about 30 km from the source of the river.
It has been reported that the mountain forest at the source of river Hasukpara in the remote area called Chhota Belchhari of Patachhara Union of Ramgarh Upazila was cut and destroyed. The hills are losing their ability to hold water from the monsoon rains due to the absence of forests and creepers.
The natural flow of water flowing down from the foothills is facing human-made obstacles. Paddycultivation is being done by cutting the narrow channel of water flow and converting it into land. The normal flow of water is being obstructed due to the construction of small and large dams from the source to the nearby Manikchari.
The naturalness of the nature is being lost due to the recent settlements in the surrounding mountains from the source of the river. On the other hand, reproductive process is being affected due to pollution of river water due to tobacco cultivation on the banks of Halda river in Manikchari area. Besides, the navigability of the river is weakening due to the illegal extraction of sand from the connected canals of Haldanadi in different areas of Manikchari.
Meanwhile, in the notification ceremony held in Ramgarh on Saturday(26 October24), the concerned officials said that all necessary measures will be taken to protect the source. In particular, the source area and surrounding hill-dune area will be identified and declared as a protected area. Appropriate plantation will be done to protect nature and biodiversity. Efforts will be made to remove obstructions or other obstructions to keep the flow of water unobstructed from the point of origin. Officials also said that the necessary initiatives and plans will be taken soon by on-site inspection and observation. Muhammad Mizanur Rahman, Project Director of Haldanadi Natural Fish Breeding Area Development and Management Project (2nd Phase), said that all kinds of support will be given to tobacco farmers in Manikchari area for the cultivation of alternative vegetables. Besides, action will be taken to stop illegal sand mining through the local administration. In the speech of the chief guest on the occasion, Director General of Fisheries Department Md. Zillur Rahman said that utmost importance will be given to protect the traditional Haldanadi.
In addition to Haldanadi Project Director Muhammad Mizanur Rahman, among others, Deputy Director of Fisheries Directorate Md. Anwar Hossain, Khagrachhari District Fisheries Officer Dr. Raju Ahmed, Ramgarh Upazila Nrbahi Officer Mamata Afrin, Project Director of Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project Md. Zia Hyder Chowdhury, Manikchari Agriculture Officer Md. Zahir Raihan, Ramgarh Press Club President Md. Nizam Uddin Lavlu, Manikchari Journalist Abdul Mannan . Ramgarh Upazila Fisheries Officer Md. Manowar Hossain along with government officials of various departments, residents and tobacco farmers along the banks of Haldani were present in the program under the supervision of Manikachari Upazila Fisheries Officer Pranab Kumar Sarkar at Ramgarh Upazila Auditorium.