Sylhet Correspondent :
Reconstruction and maintenance work on the embankments in different haor areas of Sunamganj may not be completed within the scheduled time.
Earlier, the authority had extended time for the project till March 15. However, it has been given another extension till the end of March.
As about 4000 hectares of land had already been affected after the recent rains, the farmers expressed their utter disappointment on the negligence of the Water Development Board (WDB) alleging it had failed to finish even 50 per cent work yet.
Besides, the Water Resources Ministry asked the WDB for the project as early as possible so that the farmers could harvest their crops safely before the rainy season.
The WDB does repair work on the protection embankments every year during the winter to protecting Boro on the haors in the low-lying district, weeks ahead the start of the major crop’s harvest. A number of worried locals said the WDB had failed even to complete 50 percent of the works. The farmers also alleged poor quality works and delay in implementation would cause the crop lands’ inundation by rains or any natural calamity like storm and others.
WDB’s Superintending Engineer, Sylhet AKM Nurul Islam Sarker told this correspondent ‘Although the works couldn’t be finished on time for reasons, about 60 per cent works is done. We are trying to complete the works by extended time 31 March,’ the official added.
He said Tk 150 million was spent in the two districts last year. This year, work worth Tk 107.2 million is being done through 225 project implementation committees (PICs) in Sunamganj and Tk 10.5 million for 31 PICs in Sylhet.
The WDB has been doing repair work on 40 haors in the district this year. Some work are being done through contractors while the rest are being done through the PICs, comprising locals and officials.
Reconstruction and maintenance work on the embankments in different haor areas of Sunamganj may not be completed within the scheduled time.
Earlier, the authority had extended time for the project till March 15. However, it has been given another extension till the end of March.
As about 4000 hectares of land had already been affected after the recent rains, the farmers expressed their utter disappointment on the negligence of the Water Development Board (WDB) alleging it had failed to finish even 50 per cent work yet.
Besides, the Water Resources Ministry asked the WDB for the project as early as possible so that the farmers could harvest their crops safely before the rainy season.
The WDB does repair work on the protection embankments every year during the winter to protecting Boro on the haors in the low-lying district, weeks ahead the start of the major crop’s harvest. A number of worried locals said the WDB had failed even to complete 50 percent of the works. The farmers also alleged poor quality works and delay in implementation would cause the crop lands’ inundation by rains or any natural calamity like storm and others.
WDB’s Superintending Engineer, Sylhet AKM Nurul Islam Sarker told this correspondent ‘Although the works couldn’t be finished on time for reasons, about 60 per cent works is done. We are trying to complete the works by extended time 31 March,’ the official added.
He said Tk 150 million was spent in the two districts last year. This year, work worth Tk 107.2 million is being done through 225 project implementation committees (PICs) in Sunamganj and Tk 10.5 million for 31 PICs in Sylhet.
The WDB has been doing repair work on 40 haors in the district this year. Some work are being done through contractors while the rest are being done through the PICs, comprising locals and officials.
