Twelve out of 57 water regulators in Sunamganj's haor region have become completely inoperative, disrupting the drainage system crucial for boro crops, freshwater fish and aquatic biodiversity.
Although 36 regulators remain functional, the dysfunctional ones require urgent repairs, according to local farmers and officials.
Constructed by the Water Development Board (WDB), the regulators—ranging from one to six vents—play a vital role in managing water levels in the haor.
Year's of alleged neglect have left a dozen regulators unable to drain water, raising concerns among farmers about potential crop damage from flash floods.
Farmers have also expressed concerns about the lack of proper drainage affecting fish movement during the monsoon.
Regulator Conditions by Division
According to WDB sources, Division-1 oversees 33 regulators, of which nine are completely inoperative. While 23 remain operational, most require maintenance to function effectively.
The inoperative regulators include Bagiani-1 and Ahammakkhali sluice gates in Tahirpur, the pipe sluice gates in Bishwambharpur and Krishtola, as well as the Rainga, Buridanga, Dalia, Beheli, and Dhankunia regulators.
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Similarly, Division-2 manages 24 regulators, three of which are entirely out of order, while six others are on the verge of malfunctioning.
Of the 13 functional regulators, six require urgent repairs.
Three regulators in Nalua Haor have remained inoperative for years, causing significant problems for local farmers.
Wider Issue with Water Management
The issue is not limited to WDB-constructed regulators.
Many regulators built by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) and the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) are also non-functional, offering little benefit to farmers.
Despite repeated complaints, no significant repair initiatives have been taken.
Farmers in haor areas face severe water drainage problems, particularly during excessive rainfall and waterlogging, as the embankments surrounding the haors prevent natural water flow.
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"Our haor is one of the largest Boro-producing areas in the district, yet three major regulators have been non-functional for years. This has led to drainage problems and increased the risk of crop loss from flash floods," said Abdul Majid, a farmer from Nalua Haor.
He urged the authorities to expedite repair and reconstruction efforts.
Call for Upgrades
Professor Chittaranjan Talukdar, vice-president of the Haor Bachao Andolon, stressed the importance of upgrading and widening the regulators to facilitate boat movement.
"Sluice gates are one of the oldest and most effective water management tools. If these are not upgraded, people break embankments near the regulators to create boat passages, rendering the regulators ineffective," he warned.
Sunamganj WDB Executive Engineer Mamun Hawlader said a new project has been initiated to construct multi-part regulators and undertake necessary repairs.
"The work has already begun. Once completed, the water drainage problem will be significantly reduced," he added.
Significance of the Haor Region
Situated in the northeastern part of Bangladesh, the Haor Basin is a geological depression covering 860,000 hectares and home to over 20 million people.
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The region remains one of the most poverty-stricken in the country, with a significant portion of its population classified as ultra-poor.
The Haor region contributes approximately 16.5% of Bangladesh's total rice production.