Authority selects 534 schemes for execution to save Boro crop

Our Correspondent | December 11, 2018 00:00:00

SYLHET, Dec 10: As many as 534 schemes have been selected for execution during the current winter season with a view to saving Boro paddy in 11 upazilas under Sunamganj district, official sources informed on Monday.

These would cost a total of Tk 934.7 million for reconstruction and reshaping works on a total of 440- km embankment (not dam).

The schemes, prepared and sent by the upazila level committees were reviewed and approved at the distrct committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner Md. Abdul Ahad yesterday afternoon, said the committee member-secretary Abu Baker Siddiquee, also executive engineer of the Water Development Board (WDB), Sunamganj.

Meantime, survey on these schemes had been done, the official added.

The official also informed, of the total, Taka 390 million would be spent for 218 schemes in the WDB's division-Sunamganj-I, comprising Sunamganj Sadar, Biswambharpur, Tahirpur, Dharmapasha and Jamalganj upazilas while Tk 545 million would be spent for 335 schemes in the division-Sunamganj-II, comprising the rest upazilas like Dakshin Sunamganj, Jogonnathpur, Derai, Shulla, Chhatak and Doarabazar.

The meeting also decided to constitute the project Implementation Committees immediately aiming to start project works on the approved schemes from December 15, the official said. Other officials of the committee including the upazila committee heads and member-secretaries were present.

Last year highest Tk 1.51 billion was spent for a total 954 schemes in the district while works were done on a total of 1347- km embankment in the district for saving Boro paddy from flood.

The WDB has to work on the crop protection works inside 37 major haors and outside the district before the rainy season every year.

Following a large scale irregularities in the crop protection works in 2017, causing huge crop loss by devastating floods, the government had to take up the highest number of schemes last year.

The president, prime minister as well as some other ministers visited the haor region, including the worst-hit Sunamganj district in 2017 to see for themselves the extent of damage.