Frustration grows in Sunamganj over stalled llood protection works

The Boro season has started in Sunamganj district, but the majority of flood protection embankments in the area remain unfinished, with only minimal work done on a few of them.

According to regulations, the construction of the embankments in Shantiganj upazila was supposed to begin on December 15 and be completed by February 28.

However, this deadline has not been met, leaving farmers concerned about the protection of their crops. In some cases, embankments were ceremoniously inaugurated but there has been no actual work on the ground. As a result, farmers are planting Boro rice with growing anxiety over the incomplete state of the embankments.

During a visit to Dekhar Haor in the upazila on Sunday afternoon, it was observed that, despite two weeks passing since the inauguration of some embankments, there were no visible signs of progress. No officials from the Project Implementation Committee (PIC) could be found and there were no signboards or construction materials at the sites.

There were also no preparations to work on the vulnerable Utharia Closer area. Furthermore, it was found that while some roadwork has been done for truck access in a few embankments across the eight unions of the area, the essential work of placing soil for the embankments has not yet begun. Local farmers fear that the delay in completing the work could lead to significant crop losses due to early floods or other natural disasters.

Every year, flood protection embankments are constructed to safeguard the Boro crops in the haor areas from early floods. This year, the government allocated 9.64 crore taka for the construction of 64 embankments in Shantiganj. However, with little progress on most of the embankments, farmers have become increasingly worried.

Farmers report that they are always anxious about the embankment construction, as it is rarely completed on time. As a result, they often face crop damage from early floods. This year, once again, a few embankments have been ceremoniously opened with no actual work being done.

Momin Mia, assistant engineer at Water Development Board in Shantiganj, acknowledged that while partial work has begun in some haors, the majority of the embankments remain incomplete due to water-related issues. He assured that full-scale work would begin in the first week of January.

Sukanta Saha, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Chairman of KABITA Scheme Implementation and Monitoring Committee in Shantiganj, stated that the authorities would ensure that work on the unfinished embankments is expedited. He assured that construction on all embankments will begin in earnest in January.

Imdadul Haque, executive engineer of Sunamganj District Water Development Board, mentioned that he would conduct a site inspection of the embankments and take further action based on the progress of the work.