Sunamganj people demand embankment on Chilai river

SYLHET, Jan 20: Crops on a large area of land would be at risk this year as the authorities did not take up any scheme for construction of embankment on the hilly Chilai river banks in Doarabazar uapzila of Sunamganj.

Locals, expressing apprehension said, we had demanded for an embankment on the 02 km area from village Gozaura to Sundarposhi, but there had been no positive decision as yet, while the crop land around would be at risk.

Almost every year, the local farmers on the haor bank areas have to suffer much due to hilly flash floods hitting Aman and Boro paddy. This year too we apprehend loss of crops on 4500 hectares, said a number of locals of the neighbouring villages.

When the locals in a written application appealed for construction of the said embankment to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, the application has been sent to higher authorities, informed an official. We are waiting for a decision, he added.

Water Development Board (WDB) has been implementing crop protection schemes worth Tk 21.16 million in the upazila this year. Works on 20 out of 23 projects are now going on in the upazila, officials said.

Locals also alleged several unnecessary schemes were taken up last year for mysterious reasons, wasting public money. Besides, several schemes were scrapped on complaints from the locals.

A number of farmers said they would be in great trouble if the major crop suffers any calamity this season. This is why we had appealed for an embankment on the frontier Chilai riverbank, but it is yet to be approved, they added.

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