Gulam Rabbani :
The All-Weather Road was basically built in order to create smooth communication for the people of the Haor region of Kishoreganj district. But it is alleged the road was constructed without proper environmental and ecological study. The people of Haor region have also started getting the consequences of this unplanned construction.
In last two years due to this construction the farmers of the area could not prepare the land in time for the new crops, which has also affected the overall crop production in the area.
Flood waters from the Meghalaya hills of India and the northern districts of the country, including Sylhet and Sunamganj, flow to the south mainly through this Haor and the rivers related this Haor. But this long road has been built much higher than the normal topography of the Haor. As a result, water can no longer flow as like as earlier situation.
Dr A K M Saiful Islam, a Professor of the Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), said that the All-Weather Road of Kishoreganj Haor is not an environment friendly construction.
“The government has decided not to construct any more surface roads in Haor areas as it would harm the ecological system of the Haor. Decision was taken to construct elevated roads, if necessary, so that the water flow is not obstructed,” added Professor Saiful Islam.
Dr G M Tarekul Islam, also a Professor at the Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), said, “Many roads and other establishments have been constructed in seven Hoar surrounded districts including Kishoreganj where environmental and ecological issues were not considered seriously. However, no new establishments will be constructed in Haor region like this. A new road will be constructed at Kishoreganj Haor which will be elevated. As a result, water flow will not be disrupted.”
However, the All-Weather Road in Kishoreganj Haor cannot be blamed alone for the sudden floods in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts, added Professor Tarekul Isalm.
According to locals of Itna, Mithamoin and Austagram upazilas, the 29.73 kilometre long road, constructed between 2016-2020 at a cost of Tk 874.08 crore, has impeded the flow of upstream water into the rivers through the Haor.
A farmer from Austagram Haor on condition of anonymity said that every year water accumulated in the Haor area in March-April and flowed into the rivers quickly. But now it gets trapped here for days, damaging paddies. This problem has been prevalent for the last few years.
However, Mohibour Rahman, another resident of the upazila, said the road is not as responsible for obstructing water flow as it is blamed.
As the road is constructed along the north-south side, this road does not directly obstruct the water flow coming from the northern region, said Ritesh Barua, Executive Engineer, Roads and Highways Department (RHD), Kishoreganj.
According to the Roads and Highways Department of Kishoreganj, the 29.73 km long all-weather road has 3 PC girders with a length of 590.47 metres, and 62 RCC box culverts with a length of 190 metres and 11 RCC girder bridges of 269.68 metres.
The Cabinet has instructed not to construct any regular road in the Haor areas.
The decision came at a Cabinet meeting held on April 18 in 2022 chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam.
A total of 414 Haors cover an area of 14,536 sq km in 50 upazilas of seven districts of Sunamganj, Habiganj, Kishoreganj, Netrokona, Sylhet, Moulvibazar and Brahmanbaria. Since the Haor area is submerged in water for most of the year, there is no crop in that area during that time. During the dry season, Boro crops are grown in most parts of the Haor. About 16% of the total paddy production in Bangladesh comes from the Haor area.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, Boro paddy has been planted in 9.50 lakh hectares of land in the Haor districts this year.
