Staff Reporter :
The Paknar Haor in Jamalganj upazila of Sunamganj district inundated after cracks developed at different points of Urar Dam due to heavy downpour and onrush of water from the upstream early Monday.
Paknar Haor, the only haor, remained safe after the over-flood of Shanir Haor in Tahirpur upazila of the district on Sunday. But at last it was also washed away early Monday. The flood-water is now entering through the cracks in the dam and inundated many villages.
Over 10,000 hectares of Boro paddy fields of Jamalganj upazila have already been washed away following the cracks in the embankment of Paknar Haor, according to locals and Agriculture Extension Department.
Earlier, fearing the breach of embankment, over 100 workers, locals, farmers, cops as well as administration worked round the clock on Sunday night to save the Paknar Haor embankment.
In addition, some 50 workers were also stationed there to guard the embankment round the clock. But their all efforts went in vain.
“All out effort round the clock taken by the farmers and others to protect the Paknar Haor went in vain due to strong current. The strong current washed away all paddy fields,” said Zahidul Huq, Deputy Director,
of Agriculture Extension Department of Sunamganj district on Monday. He said the strong current developed a crack at Paknar embankment early Monday and at one stage it was breached at Gazaria point and the flood water entered the Paknar Haor.
He said Boro crops on almost 22,000 acres have been inundated just days before the harvesting.
“The backswamp was in precarious condition due to the flash-flood and heavy rains. The embankment collapsed after the water level rose,” Zahidul added. “The flash flood has become the worst ever in Haor districts this year. There are no words to tell you how bad this is. It’s just flash-flood and heavy downpour and pure destruction,” said Karuna Sindhu Talukder, Chairman, Fenarbak Union Council.
However, he alleged that no official from Water Development Board was seen on the spot.
Earlier, flash-flood damaged Boro crops in 1.8 lakh hectares of land in Sunamganj, Habiganj, Kishoreganj, Netrokona Sylhet and Moulvibazar districts Farmers, who only depend on Boro paddy in Haor areas faced an estimated loss of over Tk 4,000 crore.
According to Statistics disclosed by the government, around 1,276 tonnes of fish and 3,844 ducks died in the haors where the level of dissolved oxygen dropped.
About 1,276 tonnes of fish died in Haor areas of four districts following last month’s flash-flood caused by incessant rains, said the Government report. The loss is estimated at Tk 41 crore.
Hundreds of thousands of fishes, including Katla, Kalibaus, Boal, Rui, Ghagot, Pabda, Chela, Dhela and Chapila, have died.
Talking to journalists, Dr Syed Arif Azad, Director General, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, said they sent the report to Ministry on Monday morning.
Beside, about 3,844 ducks have also died due to polluted water.
As a result, over 13 lakh farmers’ families of Haor districts have already started facing severe food crisis. Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has already launched a probe into the matter.
The Water Development Board sought bids for 28 embankments in 116 packages in the last two years for Sunamganj, but Executive Engineers and contractors plotted together to embezzle Tk 250 million without doing anything for the projects, said ACC officials.
The Paknar Haor in Jamalganj upazila of Sunamganj district inundated after cracks developed at different points of Urar Dam due to heavy downpour and onrush of water from the upstream early Monday.
Paknar Haor, the only haor, remained safe after the over-flood of Shanir Haor in Tahirpur upazila of the district on Sunday. But at last it was also washed away early Monday. The flood-water is now entering through the cracks in the dam and inundated many villages.
Over 10,000 hectares of Boro paddy fields of Jamalganj upazila have already been washed away following the cracks in the embankment of Paknar Haor, according to locals and Agriculture Extension Department.
Earlier, fearing the breach of embankment, over 100 workers, locals, farmers, cops as well as administration worked round the clock on Sunday night to save the Paknar Haor embankment.
In addition, some 50 workers were also stationed there to guard the embankment round the clock. But their all efforts went in vain.
“All out effort round the clock taken by the farmers and others to protect the Paknar Haor went in vain due to strong current. The strong current washed away all paddy fields,” said Zahidul Huq, Deputy Director,
of Agriculture Extension Department of Sunamganj district on Monday. He said the strong current developed a crack at Paknar embankment early Monday and at one stage it was breached at Gazaria point and the flood water entered the Paknar Haor.
He said Boro crops on almost 22,000 acres have been inundated just days before the harvesting.
“The backswamp was in precarious condition due to the flash-flood and heavy rains. The embankment collapsed after the water level rose,” Zahidul added. “The flash flood has become the worst ever in Haor districts this year. There are no words to tell you how bad this is. It’s just flash-flood and heavy downpour and pure destruction,” said Karuna Sindhu Talukder, Chairman, Fenarbak Union Council.
However, he alleged that no official from Water Development Board was seen on the spot.
Earlier, flash-flood damaged Boro crops in 1.8 lakh hectares of land in Sunamganj, Habiganj, Kishoreganj, Netrokona Sylhet and Moulvibazar districts Farmers, who only depend on Boro paddy in Haor areas faced an estimated loss of over Tk 4,000 crore.
According to Statistics disclosed by the government, around 1,276 tonnes of fish and 3,844 ducks died in the haors where the level of dissolved oxygen dropped.
About 1,276 tonnes of fish died in Haor areas of four districts following last month’s flash-flood caused by incessant rains, said the Government report. The loss is estimated at Tk 41 crore.
Hundreds of thousands of fishes, including Katla, Kalibaus, Boal, Rui, Ghagot, Pabda, Chela, Dhela and Chapila, have died.
Talking to journalists, Dr Syed Arif Azad, Director General, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, said they sent the report to Ministry on Monday morning.
Beside, about 3,844 ducks have also died due to polluted water.
As a result, over 13 lakh farmers’ families of Haor districts have already started facing severe food crisis. Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has already launched a probe into the matter.
The Water Development Board sought bids for 28 embankments in 116 packages in the last two years for Sunamganj, but Executive Engineers and contractors plotted together to embezzle Tk 250 million without doing anything for the projects, said ACC officials.
