Human chains for timely completion of crop protection embankments in Sunamganj

SYLHET, Feb 15: People formed human chains and held rallies on the Shaldigha haorbank under Sunamganj Sadar and on the Matian haorbank under Tahirpur upazila on Wednesday to demand for completion of all the crop protection embankments timely. 'Poribesh O Haor Unnayan Sangstha' organised the event where a good numbers of farmers took part.

The speakers on both the rallies expressed their concern over the delay of embankment work. They said quality should be maintained.

President of the organisation Kashmir Reza said although the government had assured of sufficient fund for the crop protection embankments, the local authority had mysteriously dropped Shaldigha haor protection scheme. He also demanded for immediately taking up schemes for all the places fit for embankments to save crop during monsoon.

The speakers also alleged the authority is set to complete the work by February 28, but many of the PICs couldn't even start their work yet. They demanded regular monitoring on the scheme work by the WDB officials since the last year's experience was bitter.

The PICs were asked for bringing earth from 50 metre distant places, but they are collecting the earth from just attached places risking the embankments, the speakers alleged.

Abdul Hai Master, Gopesh Sarker, Shamim Ahmed, Montu Sarker, Atik Faruqui, UP members Shakhawat Hossain and Zainal Abedin, former members Taposh Barman and Manoranjan Chaklader, Jalal Ahmed, Bashir Ahmed, Nurul Haque, Ujjal Ahmed Abdus Shahid also addressed among others.

In the pretext of last year's colossal crop damage, the government through WDB has sanctioned Tk 1.0 billion for the 872 schemes to save Boro crop.

Superintending Engineer of the WDB, Sylhet circle ASM Shariful Islam said steps are on to ensure quality works. This is why locals' participation has been raised in the Project Implementation Committees (PICs).

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