A crop protection embankment lying incomplete as is seen in the picture taken on Thursday in Derai upazila of Sunamganj — FE Photo SYLHET, Mar 15: As the extended deadline ended today, the Water Development Board (WDB) couldn't complete the work on the crop protection embankments in Sunamganj district. However, the authority earlier gave 15-day extension time for completion the work. The deadline was first set for February 28.
The WDB officials claimed that the progress is more than 85 per cent but the locals said it is not more than 70 per cent. The common farmers are now in a great worry due to the delay in works while fearing early rains.
The Water Resources ministry had sanctioned Tk 1.22 billion for 964 schemes this time in the district, known as haor area, since vast tracts there are used for Boro cultivation every year.
In the pretext of last year's large irregularities and mismanagement, the government this year pressed new system for executing the embankment works through the Project implementation Committees (PICs), with participation of local leading people and land owners under the supervision of the upazila administration.
But there had been much mismanagement and irregularities in PIC formation and project works at field level, alleged a number of cropland owners in Tahirpur, Jamalganj, Deari and Shulla upazilas. Meanwhile, the chiefs of at least 19 PICs were suspended in Tahirpur, Jogonnathpur and Dharmapasha upazilas while some WDB officials were now facing actions.
On the other hand they couldn't even start works on a scheme at Chandra Sonarthal haor due to some locals' objection.
WDB's Superintending Engineer, Sylhet circle SM Shariful Islam told this correspondent today the average progress is below 85 percent and rest of the works on the embankments would be completed soon. However, some of the WDB officials, who had prepared unnecessary or fake schemes, were now facing departmental actions, he said.
Haor citizens' forum 'Poribesh O Haor Unnayan Sangstha' on March 11 staged human chain in front of the Sylhet Central Shahid Minar demanding immediate completion of works on crop protection embankments.
The speakers at a rally during the demonstration said in the pretext of last year's experience of devastating crop damage by the early flood and flawed embankments, the government had set date for completing the works by February 28 and extended till March 11. But, due to large scale irregularities, they failed starting those in time and failed completing almost all the embankments. It demanded completion of the crop protection embankments with quality works before it rains.
WDB official also said the deadlines couldn't be followed for reasons. But, still the PICs were trying to complete the works within days, he added.
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