Anisur Rahman Khan :
Lack of dredging, unplanned constructions and encroachment in and around the Haor rivers are also responsible for the devastating flood.
The intensity of flood and damages could have been reduced to some extent if the 18 Haor rivers were dredged.
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) under the Shipping Ministry has submitted a project on ‘capital dredging in haor regions to increase the water flow, navigability, discharge of water, landing facility with development of eco system’ to the Planning Ministry in December 2020.
The BIWTA has estimated Tk 1934 crore to implement the project.
A total of 18 Haor rivers-Surma, Surma’s tributaries Dhola and Chela, Bulai, Kalni, Kushyara, Kangsha, Manu, Rakti, Sutang, Jadukata, Pagla, Buri, Titas, Mogra, Jujnal, Jamuna, Khawai, Korangi and Uper Meghna will be dredged under the project.
Despite completion all the queries as per Planning Commission’s instruction, the project is pending with the concerned ministry from May 4, 2021.
Multiple sources alleged that no projects are moved from the desk until they are appeased.
“I have heard that a cluster of projects have been drafted centering Haor areas mainly doing dredging works. Unfortunately, concerned secretaries didn’t place them before me,” Planning Minister MA Mannan told The New Nation on Sunday.
He agreed if such projects are implemented in Haor areas, it would help to reduce flood intensity and even farmers will be benefitted too.
“I am now suffering from coronavirus. I will look into the matter after return
to my office. I will ask the concerned Member of the Planning Commission to place it as soon as possible, so that we could place it to the ECNEC for approval,” the Minister said in reply to a query.
Additional Chief Engineer (Dredging) of BIWTA Saidur Rahman said that they have taken up the project to enhance the navigability, minimizing drainage congestation, wetland ecosystem, irrigation and landing facilities in Haor areas by dredging 18 rivers.
“The river beds are being swollen due to excessive siltation and no dredging work was done in the Haor areas after the independence. If the dredging works are done-the rivers will able to contain huge waters,” Saidur observed.
When asked about the project, he replied, they submitted the project to the Planning Ministry on May 4, 2021 through the Shipping Ministry.
The entire haor districts of Sunamganj and 80 percent of Sylhet have gone under water putting over 50 lakh people marooned.
Besides, lakhs of people in Netrakona, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Brahmmanbaria and Kishoreganj haor districts are also victim of flood waters.
