WDB expects work to end by March 15

Our Correspondent

SYLHET, Mar 07: In a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister, the locals have demanded immediate completion of the work on crop protection embankments in Sunamganj.

Office bearers of citizens' forum 'Haor Banchao, Sunamganj Banchao' handed the memo over to Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Mohammad Shafiul Alam on Tuesday. Its president Bazlul Mazid Chowdhury Khosru, General Secretary Bijon Sen Roy, joint secretary Salehin Shubho, member freedom fighter Malek Hossain Pir and others were present.

In the memo, they thanked the Prime Minister for the government's efforts to helping the common farmers of the region after it had suffered extreme due to colossal crop damage by floods last year. This year the government had sanctioned Tk 1.77 billion for the crop protection embankments, they mentioned adding but the works were not done properly. Farmers demand and advice were not taken into consideration, they added. Besides, the works couldn't be completed within its deadline, by February 28 putting the croplands at risks.

The petitioners also urged for finishing the embankment works immediately without affecting the technical aspects.

Meanwhile, the Water Development Board (WDB) officials said they were trying to finish the works in a week. WDB superintending engineer, Sylhet circle, SM Shariful Islam told this correspondent on Wednesday over 70 per cent works had been completed on average and steps are on for the rest to be done by March 15.

"We had already asked the field level officials and Project Implementation Committees (PICs) to complete the incomplete works at an earliest", said, adding, labour shortage and conflict over forming PICs are also responsible for the delay.

The official said the local officials had demanded sanction of additional amount of Tk 550 million for some new schemes last week while Tk 1.22 billion had been sanctioned earlier for the district's 964 schemes for construction and reconstruction of crop protection embankments.

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