Teesta dams vulnerable as 10 spars damaged by flood
One of the 10 damaged spars on the Buri Teesta embankment in Nilphamari.Photo: STAR
Devastating floods this year that crossed all previous records washed away or badly damaged 10 embankment protection dams (spars) of Teesta river. This has made Teesta embankments vulnerable, sources said. The Teesta embankments were saved due to round the clock vigilance by army personnel and Water Development Board (WDB) officials. Troops guarded the embankments day and night. Whenever there was any sign of breach, they along with WDB men moved swiftly and mended it. The embankment protection spars were damaged at Dohol Para, Pagal Para, Kaliganj and Chhotokhata in Dimla upazila in the upstream and at Chhatunama, Uttar Sonakhali, Vendabari, Baishpukur in Dimla upazila and Dauabari and Holdibari points in Jaldhaka upazila in the downstream, WDB sources said. The spars were constructed to protected Teesta embankments. If the right embankment of Teesta was damaged, then Teesta waters would have flown in different directions creating another course of the river, the officials said. The army played a commendable role in protecting the embankments, they said. Lt Col Abu Naser Md Toha PSC, commander of the army camp in Nilphmaari, told journalists at a recent view exchange meeting that during crucial moments of flood troops guarded the entire Teesta embankments from its pointb of entry into Bangladesh at Kaliganj in Dimla upazila upto the Teesta Barrage point. WDB Executive Engineer Atiqur Rahman said he has sent a message to Dhaka seeking funds for immediate repair of the spars and the guide dam. He said around Tk 10 crore would be needed for this.
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