Khulna flood control dam rickety for lack of repair

The flood protection embankment covering 3 coastal upazilas – Koyra, Dakope and Paikgachha – of Khulna district is now in a very flimsy state for want of repair. With the monsoon approaching, the embankment lies under the risk of collapse at any moment due to pressure of flood water or tidal surge from the nearby rivers causing inundation in vast areas. Sources at the local office of Water Development Board (WDB) said about 58 kilometre stretch of the 336-km embankment in the three disaster-prone upazilas remains in dilapidated condition. Of the vulnerable portion of the dam, 35.74-km is in Koyra while 19 km is in Dakope and 3km in Paikgachha upazila. Locals said many villages might go under water during the rainy season if the vulnerable points of the embankment are not repaired on an emergency basis. Holding a section of people responsible for making the dam vulnerable, some WDB officials, on condition of anonymity, said a group of influential people installed pipes in the embankment in Koyra, Dakope and Paikgachha to pump saline water from the river into their shrimp enclosures. However, they said though the mindless act weakened the dyke, the WDB authorities are yet to take any steps to save the dam from damage, according to UNB.