Sidr Damage
Only 78 of 644 km dams being repaired in Patuakhali
Repair of most of the flood control embankments damaged by cyclone Sidr in seven upazilas in Patuakhali district has become uncertain as Water Development Board (WDB) has been allotted only Tk 7.25 crore against local authorities' demand for Tk 110 crore for the work.
With the poor allocation, local authorities started repair work of only 78 km embankment and two sluice gates this year.
“We submitted an emergency 'proposed plan' of Tk 110 crore to the higher authorities concerned immediately after cyclone Sidr for repairing the damaged embankments. But they allotted only Tk 7.25 crore in two instalments,” said Patuakhali WDB Executive Engineer Md Jahir Uddin.
“With the allocation we have taken steps to repair only 78 km out of 645 km damaged embankment and two sluice gates. The repair work is going on in full swing,” he said.
Cyclone Sidr on November 15 last year damaged 645 kilometres out of 1,209 kilometres flood control embankment in Patuakhali district, WDB sources said.
Of it, 83 km was damaged totally and the rest 562 km partly. In seven upazilas in the district, 355 out of 412 sluice gates, 612 inlets, 362 irrigation schemes, 24 closures were also damaged, they added.
Aman paddy on 1.70 lakh hectares of land was destroyed due to damage of the flood control embankments.
Nur Mohammad, a farmer of Charkhali village under Mirzaganj upazila in the district, said, “Aman paddy on three acres of my land was lost due to the Sidr. We will also be loser in the upcoming Aus season if the authorities concerned fail to repair the damaged embankments before the rains.
“Salty water from nearby rivers is flooding our agriculture lands as many parts of flood control embankments on Paieera riverbank are yet to be repaired,” Shahjalal, another farmer of the same village, said.
“We do not want relief. We demand taking step for repairing embankments so that we can cultivate our land in the upcoming rainy season,” said Adbul Kader Howlader, also a farmer.
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