Crop protection schemes face setback for late water recession

SYLHET, Feb 05: The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) could not yet start work on a number of projects for crop protection, including seven major ones for repair of embankments, in the vast haor named Matian Haor in Sunamganj district under Sylhet division on account of the delay in recession of water.

However, work on others of the total 686 schemes has started and is progressing duly, officials said.

The government allocated Tk1.3692 billion (Tk136.92 crore) for the crop protection schemes which also involve work on repair of embankments in greater Sylhet this season.

The aggregate allocation includes Tk32.5 million (Tk 3.25 crore) for 22 schemes in Sylhet district, Tk7.699 million (Tk7.77 crore) for 67 schemes in Habiganj district and and highest Tk1.26 billion (Tk 126 crore) for 686 schemes in Sunamganj district, with a maximum share of haors and Boro land.

However, last year a total of Tk1.03 billion (Tk103 crore) was spent for the schemes in the region.

Meanwhile, the BWDB is working to implement various segments of the schemes, including repair and reconstruction of embankments in over 100 haors covering Boro producing areas in Sunamganj.

Contacted, Additional Chief Engineer of the WDB, North Eastern Region Md. Shafiqul Islam said, "Protecting Boro paddy from early flash flood has been a regular job for us every year. But we could not start the work in time mainly due to late recession of water from many haors."

"Water from large haors like Matian haor is yet to recede. We have taken special measures there. Soil would be removed from a distant place in a day or two," he added.

"Standing on the foothills of the Meghalaya hills, the region suffers excessive rains or early rains as well as flash floods time and again every year. Works were to be started through the PICs from 15 December, but it was delayed," the official said.

As per government directive, the deputy commissioner heads the district committee while the WDB Executive Engineer serves as member-secretary of the committees to oversee those.

However, officials of citizens' forum 'Haor Banchao Andolan' have demanded ensuring transparency in execution of the schemes for embankment repairs and other works.

Sources at the divisional office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers suffered much as many of them prepared seedbeds late due to delay in recession of water in the haor areas. A target has been set to cultivate Boro paddy on 496,746 hectares of land in the region, including highest 223,410 hectares in Sunamganj district. In Moulvibazar it is 62,100 hectares, in Habiganj it is 123,736 hectares while in Sylhet district it is 81,519 hectares.

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