Authorities unmoved despite people's agitation

Apprehensive of massive flooding and erosion by Surma river in the coming monsoon as of last year, townspeople stated demonstrations on several occasions and submitted memorandums to the authorities, but to no effect.

The uncertainty has caused great anxiety among them as they experienced a massive flooding and erosion last year.

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The disaster may be much more in the coming year if the work is not completed in the current dry season because most outlets in the Surma banks have become wider and are open, many of the affected people said while talking to this correspondent.

The initial project was taken up several years ago to protect the banks of Surma river in the city and its suburbs.

Under the programme, 12 kilometre renovation work was planned, which covered the road from the Majar of Hajrat Gazi Burhanuddin (RA) in the east to Kanishail-Darsha area in the west of the city and the river bank along Alampur and Mistri Masjid areas.

The work was started during the past Awami League government at the initiative of the then Speaker Humayun Rashid Chowdhury, who was elected from Sylhet-1 constituency.

But the work could not be completed due to lack of funds.

After the change of government, Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman, who is now the lawmaker from the area, ordered revision of the project and inclusion of new areas.

The Finance Minister ordered implementation of the project "from the east to the west without any break".

But WDB did some work by skipping areas sporadically. The officials said they worked as per the old Project Profile, which had a targeted expenditure of Tk 14 crore.

The revised Project Proforma (PP) was later sent to the WDB Chief Engineer. It is now awaiting Planning Ministry approval, a WDB source said.

"We can not work as per the revised PP unless it is approved", he said seeking anonymity.

On the other hand, WDB high officials from Dhaka during a visit to Sylhet last year detected flaws and irregularities in the work at several points and ordered work suspension.

A WDB official said that the earlier project was taken for protection of the riverbank at Kalapara, Darsha, Alampur, Kanishail and some other areas at a cost of Tk 14.61 crore. Part of it was implemented.

Then revised PP was prepared involving Tk 90.7 crore. It includes renovation of 9.7 kilometre area on the right bank of the river and 8.05 kilometres on the left bank. The project also includes remodeling of work plan in several areas.

Again, the PP was revised involving a total cost of Tk 114 crore.

Meanwhile, talking to this correspondent, Sylhet City Corporation commissioners Haji Faruque Ahmed of Ward No 23 and Mohammad Shahjahan of Ward No. 24 alleged that the WDB "did not do any work" in Masimpur, Mednibag, Noagaon and Kushighat areas in the last two years where there were massive erosion. Concrete blocks are lying there uncared, they said.

They blamed negligence by the WDB.

Same was the view expressed by many people in the areas. They said they gave several representations to the authorities for implementation of the project. More lands in the areas will be devoured if the banks are not renovated, they said.

The erosion prone areas in the town include Sheikhghat, Tukerbazar, Ghopal, Jangail, Pirpur Chargaon, Haiderpur Sahebergaon, Kanishail, Boroikandi, Anantapur, Darsha, Kamalbazar, Technical Road and Alampur.

Waters from upstream areas in Indian roll down through the Surma causing severe erosion and flooding every year.