OUR CORRESPONDENT
SYLHET, Mar 04: The government has extended the time for completing crop protection schemes in greater Sylhet region -- primarily revolving around developing the embankments in Sunamganj's haor areas.
The time for completing the works has been extended till March 24th from February 28 and all concerned were asked to finish the works "immediately," said Md Kaiser Alam, additional chief engineer of WDB Sylhet region. "The overall progress is at 81 per cent," he added. The decision of deadline extension for the project came a day after the water resources minister's visit to the project sites of the Sunamganj-Sylhet region. The government allocated Tk 1.5 billion for the project.
Due to alleged land grab attempts and slow progress of works, locals worry of being reminded a terrible disaster that occurred in 2017 because of corruption. At that time the embankments in the region broke and vast croplands were submerged or washed away. High government officials visited the region during the 2017 crisis and cases were filed against officials and others for corruption.
Sabbir Alam of Tahirpur expressed his anger and said, "In 2017, we had the disaster due to corruption and negligence in the embankment works. Cows and goats had also died due to lack of grass."
Some administrative officials said that the national election responsibilities have contributed in the delay of the works. However, locals opined that nature may not be kind and there is a possibility of early flooding in March, which will put the region's main boro crop in a crisis.
Bijan Sen Roy, central president of Haor Bachao Andolon, said there have been more irregularities and negligence in the embankment works this year compared to last few years.
"The administration is only showing progress on paper," Haor and River Protection Committee General Secretary Obaidul Haque Milon said, alleging major corruption.
"There is a danger that such shaky embankment will be swept away in the first phase of the flood," he added.
Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner Dr. Mohammad Ilias Mia assured of monitoring the works but locals apprehended that its impact on the field level will be negligible.
forsylhet@gmail.com
