Khulna, Aug 10 (UNB)-Aman cultivation on about 6500 hectares of land in Koira upazila is facing a setback due to stagnant saline water as the sluice gates damaged by storm Aila in 2009 have not been repaired yet.

Around 29,000 farmers of seven unions of Aila-affected Koira upazila who have been passing days amid frustration as their land have become uncultivable.     

Local farmers said although the damaged embankments were repaired but the sluice gates were not, creating water logging on the crop land.

Upazila agricultural office sources said there are around 15,000 hectares cultivable land in seven unions but 6500 hectares of the total land have become uncultivable due to water logging.

Mohammad Ali Gazi, a farmer of Koira village of Koira sadar union, said he tried to plant paddy on his land last year but the plants died out due to salinity in soil and water logging. He could not even produce vegetables on his courtyard due to excessive salinity in soil.

Local farmers said if the sluice gates are repaired they would be able to cultivate their land again.

Water Development Board sub-divisional section officer Md Aliuzzaman said necessary steps have been taken for repairing the sluice gates.

The work on Oratola and Kashirkhaldhar sluice gates have been completed and rest of the sluice gates would be repaired in phases, he said.