OPEN WATER JALMAHALS OF KALAPARA UPAZILLA UNDER THE DISTRICT OF PATUAKHALI

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the present status of open water Jalmahals at Kalapara upazilla of Patuakhali district and their potentiality. The study identified a total of 296 Jalmahals (excluding major rivers) having a total area of 4754.14 acres and covering about 3.90% of the Upazilla area. Among the 296 Jalmahals, 246 Jalmahals were smaller in size (<21 acre), 32 were moderately medium (21-50 acre), 11 were medium (51-100 acre) and the rest 7 were larger in size (>100 acre). According to category, 173 were canals, 114 were khas ponds and only 9 were dighis. Based on functional type, 41 were found to be open, 83 were semi-closed and 172 were closed. Of the 296 Jalmahals, 88 were found to be leased out of which 90 were under fish culture activities. Some legal aspects and water quality parameters of 15 Jalmahals selected randomly based on the functional type (i.e. Open, Semi-closed, Closed) and categories (i.e. Canal, Dighi, Ponds) were also investigated. Water quality parameters studied were water depth, secchi depth, water colour, water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, types and density of submerged plants and density of water hyacinth. The variation in water quality parameters was found to be significant. The study has also identified the local crafts and gears used at the study area. Many of the Jalmahals were found to be fully covered with water hyacinth and neither culture program nor major fishing activity, were found there. It is suggested that those Jalmahals, which are not leased out for management, should immediately be taken up by the Government and be given to the genuine fishermen through lease for proper management.