Editorial
Tidal sufferings
Preparedness loopholes exposed
Although the heavy rain has tapered off, and the surge and the consequent tidal bore has receded, it has left in its wake severely damaged 50000 acres of cropland and fisheries and affected a large number of families in the coastal areas of the country. While a mix of climatic phenomena is the cause of the heavy downpour, the effect of the low pressure was exacerbated by the high tide that compounded the effect of the sea surge. Reportedly, as many as fifteen south and southeastern districts, were lashed by rains that lasted for almost three days with varying intensity.
The recent rain and tidal surge only expose the fact that the people in the coastal belt are constantly under threat of submersion with the slightest bit of sea swell. It also reinforces the need for the relevant authorities to be constantly ready for such unforeseen eventualities. But most of all, it underscores the need for permanent measures to protect the coastal belt from the consequences of tidal bore.
What has compounded the situation is the fact that most of the affected areas and people are those that had been hit by cyclones Aila and Sidr. These people, still struggling to find their feet, not having received adequate funds for rehabilitation, and having neither a permanent roof over them, have to make do with makeshift arrangements on flood embankments, and have little by way of farmland to generate income.
There is no doubt that the matter has been worsened by the fact that the repair and rehab work in the aftermath of Aila in particular has not been up to scratch. And as reported in this newspaper in April this year, several major breaches were yet to be repaired till then as well as the fact that more than 8,000 households were living on the embankment in Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat at that time.
What we must emphasize here is not only that the repair works are taken up immediately, those must be strictly supervised so that the embankments are strong enough to withstand the onslaught of tidal surge, which as per our reports is not so in all cases.
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