WDB sues 10 for 'sabotage' in Teesta Project

This has created a hue and cry in the area as local people say the cases are "false", filed to hide WDB officials' "misdeeds".

The accused are fleeing homes to evade arrest.

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Talking to this correspondent yesterday, the locals alleged that the embankment renovation was faulty and so it gave in to the pressure when irrigation water was released through the canal on Tuesday.

The renovation work was done at a cost of Tk 2.5 lakh recently. They said the embankment was renovated twice in previous two years also but it gave in to water pressure as the repair work was faulty.

WDB Sub Assistant Engineer at Saidpur Md Abdul Jalil filed the case with Chirirbandar thana in Dinajpur district Thursday.

In his complaint he alleged that a vested quarter out of ill motive cut the embankment on Tuesday. IRRI-Boro crops on at least 1000 acres were damaged as the canal breached at Deviganj.

The local people claimed that several thousand acres of Irri-Boro land were affected last year also as the embankment breached at the same place.

They said sand was used instead of soil to repair the embankment this year.This year, the case was filed as they protested the "irregularities" and demanded inquiry into the matter, the locals claimed

Meanwhile, the Teesta Irrigation Project authorities have suspended water supply through the canal, which is affecting IRRI-Boro crops on at least 12,000 acres, it was gathered.