About 2,000 acres of croplands in Kumarkhali upazila have been freed from stagnant water by removing six illegal breakwaters, thanks to the local administration's prompt action.

Farmers of 15 villages in the upazila cultivated Boro paddy on the land but some local influential people built breakwaters on different spots of small canals restraining normal water drainage for their illegal fish farming, said growers.

The canals are usually used to drain excessive water of crop lands, particularly in rainy season.

As a result, water remains stagnant on croplands after some days of rain. 

Despite repeated pleas, the local influential people did not remove the breakwaters.

Finding no other alternative, 100 farmers on Tuesday wrote to Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shahinuzzaman informing him of the matter.

The UNO instantly removed six illegal breakwaters and  freed the croplands from stagnant water, said the Boro farmers.