Greens disappear as dam plan gathers dust

Left over roots of coconut trees devoured by the sea in absence of an embankment in Kuakata beach. PHOTO: STAR

One-third of the coconut gardens and other eye soothing greens disappeared in the sea in last five years but a project to protect the beach taken up two years ago is yet to be approved.

The Tk 28.75 crore project was taken up by Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and sent to the ministry in 2003 to build a four kilometre embankment, reinforced with concrete blocks.

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But the water resources ministry in sitting on it, WDB Executive Engineer Abdul Mazid Mollah told this correspondent.

Erosion is now threatening the LGED rest house and some other government installations, he said.

The coconut gardens with over 15,000 trees were raised along the eight kilometre area along the beach in the 1960, local people said. Over 5000 trees have disappeared due to erosion, they said.

The September 18-19 tidal surge washed away many supermarkets in the beach due to lack of a flood control embankment, they said.