Fund cut makes half-done project’s fate uncertain

The half-done Fulchhari-Kamarjani port protection project in Gaibandha. It’s fate has become uncertain as the government cut the allocations. PHOTO: STAR

Water Development Board (WDB) sources said the fund has been reduced to Tk 9.5 crore in the revised budget from Tk 20 crore earlier allocated in the current fiscal. The project involves Tk 42.13 crore.

Work on the half-done project has virtually come to a halt due to this, sources claimed.

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The work so far done may also be affected by erosion by the mighty Brahmaputra river in the coming monsoon, they apprehended while talking to this correspondent.

The project includes renovating the Brahmaputra riverbank near the Fulchhari upazila headquarter and Kamarjani river port and placing tiles and concrete blocks.

In about last ten years, vast tracts of cultivable land, houses and structures in Gaibandha Sadar, Fulchari and Shaghata upazilas were devoured by the Brahmaputra, rendering thousands of families homeless.

The erosion continues more or less round the year at different points along the western bank of river Brahmaputra and increases during the rainy season.

In 2000-2001 financial year, the local WDB prepared a Tk 40 crore project, which involved construction of four spars in the Brahmaputra and placing RCC blocks on the riverbank slope. After government's approval, tender was floated for the project.

The local people then staged demonstrations against construction of spars, saying that would flow normal river flow and demanded a permanent solution.

The authorities later conducted a fresh feasibility study and decided to lay tiles on the river bank slope and place RCC blocks instead of constructing spars. A budget of Tk 42.13 crore was allocated for 1,984 metre bank protection work in Fulchari and 720 metre at Kamarjani.

In the first phase, Tk 20 crore was allocated in the current financial year to cover 520 metres in Fulchhari and 416 metres in Kamarjani. The work started late due to delayed disbursement of fund, the WDB sources said.

At the end of last month, the government curtailed the allocation by 50 percent in the revised budget. The area to be renovated has now been reduced to 260 metres in Fulchari and 230 metres in Kamarjani with an involvement of Tk 9.5 crore, the WDB sources said.

Vast areas will now remain vulnerable to erosion if the project remains half-done, official sources said.