Mahamaya Lake, located
in the scenic Mirsharai of Chattogram, is the second-largest lake in the
country. It was created in 1999 by installing a sluice gate on the Mahamaya
Canal. Due to a long-term lack of cleaning, garbage, and water hyacinths have
accumulated, filling the lake. Although this tourism site was leased for nearly
BDT 20 million this year, neither the Forest Department nor the Water
Development Board (WDB) is taking responsibility for its cleanup. Day by day,
the water in the lake is becoming foul-smelling.
According to sources
from the Forest Department and the Water Development Board (WDB), a sluice gate
was constructed on the Mahamaya Canal in 1999 to prevent waterlogging and hill
flooding and to provide irrigation facilities for agriculture during the dry season.
Subsequently, BDT 250 million was spent to implement the entire project.
Covering an area of about 11 square kilometers, the project transformed into
the second-largest lake in the country. The then Prime Minister inaugurated the
irrigation project on December 29, 2010.
According to sources
from the Forest Department, this year, Hock and Associates leased the Mahamaya
Eco Park for BDT 14.1 million, excluding VAT and taxes. The Forest Department
has done several development works, including constructing an information
center, while the Water Development Board has worked on road repairs.
Shahan Shah Naushad, the
officer in charge of the northern Mirsharai range of the Forest Department,
stated, "The responsibility for cleaning the lake's water lies with the
WDB. We wrote to the ministry last year regarding cleaning the water and road
repairs. While the road has been repaired, the water has not been cleaned. In
the first week of this month, we wrote another letter to the DFO. Recently,
when I informed an official from the WDB about the matter, he said there is no
budget for cleaning the lake."
However, Mohammad Abdul
Kader, the Assistant Engineer of Chattogram WDB, told the Bonik Barta that
"the responsibility for cleaning the lake's water does not lie with the
WDB. The Forest Department will handle it. The revenue generated from leasing
Mahamaya is deposited with the Ministry of Forests. Our role is to ensure
agricultural practices for farmers through water drainage."
In response to a
question, he said, "Farmers in five unions and one municipality of the
upazila cultivate using the water from Mahamaya."